Cassini UVIS Observations of the Io Plasma Torus: I. Initial Results

TL;DR

This study analyzes Cassini UVIS data of the Io plasma torus, revealing its EUV spectral characteristics, total radiated power, brightness variations, and compositional changes during the flyby.

Contribution

First detailed EUV spectral analysis of the Io plasma torus using Cassini UVIS data, including measurements of radiated power and temporal variations.

Findings

Total EUV power radiated is approximately 1.7x10^12 W.

Brightening events last about 20 hours with ~20% power increase.

Observed compositional and brightness variations over time.

Abstract

During the Cassini spacecraft's flyby of Jupiter (October, 2000-March, 2001), the Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph (UVIS) produced an extensive dataset consisting of 3,349 spectrally dispersed images of the Io plasma torus. Here we present an example of the raw data and representative EUV spectra (561{\AA}-1181{\AA}) of the torus, obtained on October 1, 2000 and November 14, 2000. For most of the flyby period, the entire Io torus fit within the UVIS field-of-view, enabling the measurement of the total power radiated from the torus in the extreme ultraviolet. A typical value for the total power radiated in the wavelength range of 580{\AA}-1181{\AA} is 1.7x10^12 W, with observed variations of up to 25%. Several brightening events were observed. These events lasted for roughly 20 hours, during which time the emitted power increased rapidly by ~20% before slowly returning to the pre-event level. Observed variations in the relative intensities of torus spectral features provide strong evidence for compositional changes in the torus plasma with time. Spatial profiles of the EUV emission show no evidence for a sharply peaked "ribbon" feature. The ratio of the brightness of the dusk ansa to the brightness of the dawn ansa is observed to be highly variable, with an average value of 1.30. Weak longitudinal variations in the brightness of the torus ansae were observed at the 2% level.