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Dust Measurements in the Jovian Magnetosphere

E. Grun{1}, H. Kruger {1}, S. Dermott {2}, H. Fechtig {1}, A. L. Graps {3}, H. A. Zook {4}, B. A. Gustafson {2}, D. P. Hamilton {5}, M. S. Hanner {6}, A. Heck {1}, M. Horanyi {7}, J. Kissel {1}, B. A. Lindblad {8}, D. Linkert {1}, G. Linkert {1}, I. Mann {9}, J. A. M. McDonnell {10}, G. E. Morfill {11}, C. Polanskey {5}, G. Schwehm {12}, R. Srama {1}

1Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik, Saupfercheckweg 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany 2University of Florida, Gainesville, FL32611, USA 3Stanford University, Center for Space Science and Astrophysics, Stanford, CA 94305-4085, USA 4NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX77058, USA 5University of Maryland, College Park, MD20742-2421, USA 6Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA91109, USA 7Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO80309, USA 8Lund Observatory, 221, Lund, Sweden 9Max-Planck-Institut für Aeronomie, 37191 Katlenburg-Lindau, Germany 10University of Kent, Canterbury, CT2 7NR, UK 11Max-Planck-Institut f. Extraterrestrische Physik, 85740 Garching, Germany 12European Space Research and Technology Centre, 2200 AG Noordwijk, The Netherlands

Abstract:

Dust measurements have been obtained with the dust detector onboard the Galileo spacecraft inside a distance of about 60 from Jupiter (Jupiter radius, ) during two periods of about 8 days around Galileo's closest approaches to Ganymede on 27 June and on 6 Sept 1996. The impact rate of submicrometer-sized particles fluctuated by a factor of several hundred with a period of about 10 hours, implying that their trajectories are strongly affected by the interaction with the Jovian magnetic field. Concentrations of small dust impacts were detected at the times of Ganymede closest approaches that could be secondary ejecta particles generated upon impact of other particles onto Ganymede's surface. Micrometer-sized dust particles, which could be on bound orbits about Jupiter, are concentrated in the inner Jovian system inside about 20 from Jupiter.

• Introduction
• Data from the Ganymede Flybys
• Discussion
• Figures
• About this document ...