Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Ionospheric photoelectrons at Venus: Initial observations by ASPERA-4 ELS
AU - Coates, A. J.
AU - Frahm, R.A.
AU - Linder, David
AU - Kataria, Dhiren
AU - Soobiah, Yasir
PY - 2008/5/1
Y1 - 2008/5/1
N2 - We report the detection of electrons due to photo-ionization of atomic oxygen and carbon dioxide in the Venus atmosphere by solar helium 30.4 nm photons. The detection was by the Analyzer of Space Plasma and Energetic Atoms (ASPERA-4) Electron Spectrometer (ELS) on the Venus Express (VEx) European Space Agency (ESA) mission. Characteristic peaks in energy for such photoelectrons have been predicted by Venus atmosphere/ionosphere models. The ELS energy resolution (ΔE/E~7%) means that these are the first detailed measurements of such electrons. Considerations of ion production and transport in the atmosphere of Venus suggest that the observed photoelectron peaks are due primarily to ionization of atomic oxygen
AB - We report the detection of electrons due to photo-ionization of atomic oxygen and carbon dioxide in the Venus atmosphere by solar helium 30.4 nm photons. The detection was by the Analyzer of Space Plasma and Energetic Atoms (ASPERA-4) Electron Spectrometer (ELS) on the Venus Express (VEx) European Space Agency (ESA) mission. Characteristic peaks in energy for such photoelectrons have been predicted by Venus atmosphere/ionosphere models. The ELS energy resolution (ΔE/E~7%) means that these are the first detailed measurements of such electrons. Considerations of ion production and transport in the atmosphere of Venus suggest that the observed photoelectron peaks are due primarily to ionization of atomic oxygen
KW - Venus
KW - Plasma
KW - Ionosphere
U2 - 10.1016/j.pss.2007.12.008
DO - 10.1016/j.pss.2007.12.008
M3 - Journal article
VL - 56
SP - 802
EP - 806
JO - Planetary and Space Science
JF - Planetary and Space Science
SN - 0032-0633
IS - 6
ER -