Formation of zebra pattern in low-frequency Jovian radio emission

A.A. Kuznetsov, V.G. Vlasov

Figure 1: Dynamic spectrum of Jovian radio emission recorded by Cassini on October 21, 2000 (courtesy of W.S. Kurth, Cassini RPWS Team, University of Iowa).

Abstract

We investigate the formation of zebra-like fine spectral structures (consisting of several parallel bands in the dynamic spectrum) in the Jovian broadband kilometric radiation; such radio bursts were observed by Cassini in 2000/2001. We assume that the emission is generated due to a plasma mechanism in the Io plasma torus. We have shown that the double plasma resonance effect (that was proposed earlier as a formation mechanism of the solar zebra patterns) is able to produce the observed spectral structures. The observed frequency drifts are caused, most likely, by the dynamics of the electron acceleration site. The required conditions in the emission source are discussed.

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Last Revised: 2012 September 26th