Interplanetary scattering effects in the jovian bKOM radio emission observed by Ulysses

Barrow, C.H., Woan, G. and MacDowall, R.J. (1999) Interplanetary scattering effects in the jovian bKOM radio emission observed by Ulysses. Astronomy and Astrophysics, 344, pp. 1001-1013.

Abstract

The scattering of radio waves by the interplanetary medium (subsequently referred to simply as `scattering') imposes limitations on measurements of fine temporal and angular structure at low radio frequencies. The jovian broad-band kilometric radiation (bKOM) is highly structured and observations of this emission, by the Unified Radio and Plasma Experiment (URAP) on board ULYSSES, have been used to study scattering at extremely low frequencies. Structures observed in the bKOM during 1995-6, when the spacecraft was at distances greater than 5 AU from the planet, are compared with observations made in 1991 when the spacecraft was relatively close to Jupiter (∼ AU). Measured values of the e-folding time are compared with theoretical values of temporal broadening and with solar wind electron density measurements made by the SWOOPS experiment on Ulysses. In general, we find that temporal broadening increases with source-observer distance and decreasing frequency, as expected from standard broadening theory, although a few inordinately low values were also observed at distances of 5 to 7 AU. At frequencies close to 45 kHz, an upper limit of about 8 min is clearly visible in observations of the temporal broadening made about 1 AU from Jupiter. Average values of the e-folding time at these same frequencies show a well-defined increase with distance from Jupiter of about 8 min AU<sup>-1</sup>. We interpret this as `saturated scattering,' where all ray paths between source and observer are explored, giving an upper limit to the temporal broadening which the medium can introduce. These observations establish limits for scattering in the interplanetary medium (IPM), which are relevant to all low frequency radio observations.

• Item Type: Articles
• Keywords: Interplanetary medium - planets and satellites, individual, Jupiter - radio continuum, solar system.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Woan, Professor Graham
• Authors: Barrow, C.H., Woan, G., and MacDowall, R.J.
• Subjects: Q Science > QB Astronomy
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy
• Journal Name: Astronomy and Astrophysics
• Publisher: EDP Sciences
• ISSN: 0004-6361