Ion-Molecule Collisions with Relevance to the Io Plasma Torus

    Photo of Io from NASA

    The Io Plasma torus is a ring of plasma around Jupiter that roughly coincides with the Orbit of Io.  The source of material is generally believed to be from the volcanic eruptions from Io.  We are investigating proton-molecule collisions by measuring the photon emission from the collisions.  This work can be compared to the spectra seen by the HST or various spacecraft of the torus and the atmosphere of Io. Links to other sites with information on the torus:  http://dosxx.colorado.edu/torus.html, http://people.we.mediaone.net/hwood1/io/io_plasma_torus.htm, http://vega.lpl.arizona.edu/iotorus/io.html

    Currently, this work is being done, in part, as an honors thesis by Jen Kiehling, '01, with assistance from Liza Hansel, '02.  We have measured the spectrum from 380-800 nm from collisions of protons with SO₂ .  The following are the spectra from this collision.