Modeling Callisto's Ionosphere: Insight Into Callisto's Atmosphere

Abstract:

We develop a kinetic model of the ionosphere of Jupiter’s moon Callisto within a prescribed neutral atmosphere composed of O2 and CO2.
We calculate the electron energy distribution as a function of space by solving the Boltzmann equation and assuming a stationary balance between local sources and sinks of electrons and electron energy.
Electron transport within the ionosphere is neglected, whereas we approximate the electron transport out of the ionosphere into the Jovian magnetosphere.
Photoionization is believed to be the major electron source within Callisto's atmosphere.
Therefore, we calculate the energy dependent photoelectron spectrum as source term of the Boltzmann equation.
The resulting Boltzmann equation is solved rigorously delivering electron distribution functions at every point of Callisto's atmosphere.
From these distribution functions, we calculate electron densities and electron impact generated UV emissions from Callisto's atmosphere.
The calculated electron densities and UV emissions are compared with observations of the Galileo spacecraft [Kliore et al., 2002] and the Hubble Space Telescope [Cunningham et al., 2015].
Based on these comparisons, we test a physically motivated atmosphere model including asymmetries that depend on Callisto's orbital phase, similar to Europa's atmosphere [Plainaki et al., 2013].
As a result, we gain knowledge about Callisto's atmospheric density and its atmospheric asymmetries.