1996
DOI: 10.1029/95je03650
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Monte Carlo calculations of plasma ion‐induced sputtering of an atmosphere: SO2 ejected from Io

Abstract: Monte Carlo calculations are used to describe the kinetics of a column of SO 2 gas (1016 cm -2) on Io, which is bombarded by a flux of ions from the I0 plasma torus, transferring 8 x 10 TM eV cm -2 s -• of kinetic energy to the atmospheric molecules. Both the vertical structure of the atmosphere and the atmospheric loss rate, referred to as sputtering, are calculated for a number of values of the momentum-transfer cross section between the ions and the SO2 molecules. The calculations include UV heating and loc… Show more

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Cited by 29 publications
(24 citation statements)
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References 49 publications
(63 reference statements)
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“…As the energies of these recoil atoms decrease, whole molecules are eventually set in motion in a molecular thermosphere (Johnson and Liu 1998). This leads to molecular escape, a process which dominates at Io (McGrath and Johnson 1987;Pospieszalska and Johnson 1996;McGrath et al 2004).…”
Section: Energy Deposition Of Pick-up Ionsmentioning
confidence: 95%
“…As the energies of these recoil atoms decrease, whole molecules are eventually set in motion in a molecular thermosphere (Johnson and Liu 1998). This leads to molecular escape, a process which dominates at Io (McGrath and Johnson 1987;Pospieszalska and Johnson 1996;McGrath et al 2004).…”
Section: Energy Deposition Of Pick-up Ionsmentioning
confidence: 95%
“…6 is produced by atmospheric sputtering induced by plasma torus or escaping ionospheric ions. Many of the hot neutrals produced do not escape but heat and expand Io's atmosphere (Pospieszalska and Johnson 1996;McGrath et al 2004). Elastic collisions primarily generate low-energy recoils so that most ejected neutrals have speeds of about a few km/s.…”
Section: Io Atmosphere and Torusmentioning
confidence: 97%
“…Plasma energy is not directly input to the vibrational degrees of freedom for lack of an adequate method; however, the plasma energy will be indirectly transferred into vibration via collisions between SO 2 molecules that have absorbed translational or rotational energy. The plasma energy flux is assumed to be $1.3 mW m À2 based on the fraction of plasma energy that reaches the exobase (Linker et al, 1988;Pospieszalska and Johnson, 1996;Austin and Goldstein, 2000). For a detailed description of the plasma model see Austin and Goldstein (2000).…”
Section: Physical Effectsmentioning
confidence: 99%