Fluorescence detection of organic molecules in the Jovian atmosphere.
A search for fluorescent emission due to the presence of possible organic molecules in the Jovian atmosphere is described. We first consider natural Jovian fluorescent emission excited by precipitating auroral particles. Due to our lack of knowledge of the Jovian precipitation particle energies and fluxes we next consider fluorescent emission excited by a laser system aboard a Jupiter spacecraft. Laser-induced fluorescence is routinely used to monitor trace constituents and pollutants in the terrestrial atmosphere. Several spacecraft laser systems are currently under development. Our calculations indicate that laser-induced fluorescent detection is approximately two orders of magnitude more sensitive than rocket ultraviolet measurements of possible Jovian absorption features at 2600 A that have been attributed to the presence of adenine or benzene.
D001272:Atmosphere; D005118:Extraterrestrial Environment; D007834:Lasers; D009696:Nucleic Acids / Q000032:analysis; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet / Q000379:methods
D009696:Nucleic Acids