LOCALIZED BRIGHTENINGS IN JUPITERS RADIATION BELTS RESULTING FROM COMET SL9 IMPACTS

摘要

Using a technique that forms three-dimensional brightness reconstructions of Jupiter's radiation belts, we analyze observations at the time of the comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 impact with Jupiter in 1994. The 3-D reconstructions provide far more information about an object than does conventional 2-D astronomical imaging. Near Jupiter's magnetic equator, the 3-D reconstructions of the comet-perturbed state reveal that: ij the increase in brightness was localized near the longitudes of individual impacts or groups of impacts; ii) the brightenings did not start immediately after a given impact, but built up over one or two days; iii) the distance of the brightenings from Jupiter is related to the magnetic field lines where the impacts occurred; iv) the brightenings drifted little or not at all over the course of days; v) 10 days after the first impact, the brightenings were still observable, although with less intensity. These findings have important implications regarding the physical processes linking comet impacts to their effects on Jupiter's radiation belts. [References: 15]