Papers Published

1. Summers, M.E. and Yung, Y.L. and Haff, P.K., A two-stage mechanism for escape of Na and K from Io, Nature (UK), vol. 304 no. 5928 (1983), pp. 710 - 12 .
   (last updated on 2007/04/10)

   Abstract:
   It is generally accepted that Io is the source of S, O, Na and K which, after ionization, form the constituents of the Io plasma torus. The authors propose that Na and K escape from Io in two stages. Atoms of Na and K are first sputtered into the atmosphere from the surface by high-energy magnetospheric ions. Atmospheric sputtering by low-energy co-rotating ions then removes these constituents (along with others present) out of Io's gravitational field. It is suggested that the observed Na and K ejection asymmetry is due to preferential sputtering of atmospheric particles on the hemisphere of Io facing Jupiter

   Keywords:
   Jupiter;planetary atmospheres;planetary satellites;