Energetic Electrons Near Europa From Juno JEDI Data

Abstract

Abstract Optical remote sensing observations have suggested that the top layer of Europa's icy surface is heavily affected by external weathering agents. To model and understand these effects, it is necessary to characterize the environment as fully as possible. In this paper, we focus on one agent in the environment (energetic electrons). We show Juno electron data from its 2022 Europa flyby and other time periods. While the Juno sensor used here (Jupiter Energetic Particle Detector Instrument) was not designed to obtain high quality electron data in an intense radiation environment, it is possible to extract information such as how Europa blocks energetic particles from accessing some of the surrounding space. The decrease in charged particle flux in Europa's wake provides an upper limit on the precipitation fluxes of the same particles. We also report that electron pitch angle distributions near Europa for the single energy channel considered here are time variable and not isotropic.

Keywords

• electron weathering
• energy spectra
• Europa
• albedo
• magnetosphere
• radiation