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Planetary Radio Emissions, and their potential use as Planetary Space Weather Probes


Feb. 27, 2015, 3:30 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Geology 6707

Presented By:
Baptiste Cecconi
Observatoire de Paris

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Low frequency planetary radio emissions are powerful phenomena produced by plasma instabilities at all magnetized planets (Earth, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and even Ganymede). They occur when free energy appear in the distribution function of energetic particles. The main family of planetary radio emissions are the auroral radio emissions, linked to particle precipitations in the auroral regions on magnetized planets. Those radio emissions are thus intrinsically linked to the general dynamics of the magnetospheres, which is controlled either by external forcing (the solar wind), or internal sources (Io at Jupiter) or both. After a quick presentation of the auroral planetary radio emissions, the presentation will be divided into two parts: the study of an interplanetary shock observed throughout the heliosphere, thanks to in situ and remote sensing observations; and the presentation of the Cassini/RPWS instrument, as a typical advanced space radio observatory featuring goniopolarimetric capabilities. The future developments of low frequency radio astronomy, both on the instrumental side and on the database and data sharing side.