Thermal and Non-Thermal Components of the X-Ray Emission from Jupiter

Branduardi-Raymont, G.; Bhardwaj, A.; Elsner, R. F.; Gladstone, G. R.; Ramsay, G.; Rodriguez, P.; Soria, R.; Waite, J. H., Jr.; Cravens, T. E.
Bibliographical reference

Progress of Theoretical Physics Supplement, No. 169, pp. 75-78

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2007
Number of authors
9
IAC number of authors
0
Citations
2
Refereed citations
2
Description
Recent XMM-Newton and Chandra observations have revealed that Jupiter's X-ray emission comprises both, thermal and non-thermal spectral components. While the emission from the low-latitude planetary disk has the properties of scattered solar X-rays, with a thermal spectrum and typical coronal emission lines, the auroral soft (< 2 keV) X-rays are thought to be produced by ion charge exchange; very recently, a higher energy auroral component has been revealed by XMM-Newton: this is attributed to energetic electron bremsstrahlung, is dominant above 2 keV, and is variable, displaying both thermal and non-thermal characteristics. The disk and soft X-ray auroral components are separated spectroscopically in the high resolution data provided by the XMM-Newton Reflection Grating Spectrometer. Our results on the morphology, dynamics and energetics of the aurorae support current models developed to explain Jupiter's complex magnetosphere.