Formation of zebra pattern in low-frequency Jovian radio emission

TL;DR

This paper explains the formation of zebra-like spectral structures in Jovian radio emissions observed by Cassini, attributing them to plasma mechanisms and double plasma resonance effects in the Io plasma torus.

Contribution

It demonstrates that the double plasma resonance effect can produce zebra patterns in Jovian radio emissions, linking spectral structures to plasma conditions and electron dynamics.

Findings

Double plasma resonance explains zebra pattern formation.

Frequency drifts linked to electron acceleration site dynamics.

Conditions in the emission source are characterized.

Abstract

We investigate the formation of zebra-like fine spectral structures (consisting of several parallel bands in the dynamic spectrum) in the Jovian broadband kilometric radiation; such radio bursts were observed by Cassini in 2000/2001. We assume that the emission is generated due to a plasma mechanism in the Io plasma torus. We have shown that the double plasma resonance effect (that was proposed earlier as a formation mechanism of the solar zebra patterns) is able to produce the observed spectral structures. The observed frequency drifts are caused, most likely, by the dynamics of the electron acceleration site. The required conditions in the emission source are discussed.