Plasma flow in the magnetosphere of Ganymede

Abstract

Galileo Energetic Particles Detector (EPD) measurements indicate that convective flow speeds near Ganymede decrease to less than one-third of rigid corotation well before any significant increase in the magnetic field strength along the trajectory is observed. In an Alfven wing model, such a deceleration implies that the Ganymede magnetosphere is a conducting object. We assess the magnitude of various conductivities and find that closure of the Alfven wing current is attainable only through the body of Ganymede itself. We discuss briefly the planetological implications of this magnetospheric result.