The helium mass fraction in Jupiter's atmosphere.
On 7 December 1995, the NASA Galileo probe provided in situ measurements of the helium abundance in the atmosphere of Jupiter. A Jamin interferometer measured the refractive index of the jovian atmosphere in the pressure region from 2 to 14 bars. These measurements indicate that the atmospheric helium mole fraction is 0.136 +/- 0.004. The corresponding helium mass fraction is slightly below the presolar value, which suggests that separation of helium from hydrogen in Jupiter's interior is only in its early stages.
von Zahn
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Institut für Atmosphärenphysik an der Universität Rostock, Kühlungsborn, Germany.
Hunten
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D001272:Atmosphere; D005118:Extraterrestrial Environment; D006371:Helium / Q000032:analysis*; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000032:analysis*; D007368:Interferometry; D018538:Jupiter; D012031:Refractometry
D006371:Helium; D006859:Hydrogen