Hall and Pedersen conductivities in the auroral ionosphere of Jupiter

Abstract

Hall and Pedersen conductivities in the auroral ionosphere of Jupiter have been calculated. Conductivity profiles are presented for three characteristic energies 10, 30 and 100 keV of the Maxwellian distribution of precipitating particles (electrons). Calculations are performed for three values of the magnetic fields, i.e. for 6, 10 and 14 G. Height integrated conductivities are tabulated. Results are compared with previous estimates. Good qualitative agreement is found. It is found that the major contribution to the conductivities comes from the heavy hydrocarbon ions and not H+ as assumed in some earlier works.