title: Imaging Jupiter's aurorae from H3+ emissions in the 3-4 micrometers band.
abstract: Since H3+ was first spectroscopically detected on Jupiter, there has been considerable interest in using this simple molecular ion to probe conditions existing in the planet's auroral regions.  Here we present a series of images of Jupiter recorded at wavelengths sensitive to emission by H3+, which reveal the spatial distribution of excited H3+ molecular ions in the jovian ionosphere, as seen from Earth.  We believe that they provide high-spatial-resolution images of polar aurorae on Jupiter.  They suggest that the intensity of the auroral emission can vary on a timescale of an hour, a shorter period than had previously been noted. We also find that the spatial distribution of H3+ emissions correlates only partially with the loci of auroral activity inferred from ultraviolet and longer-wavelength infrared observations.  The H3+ emission may therefore be controlled by auroral processes that are different from those responsible for the ultraviolet and infrared emissions.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Astronomy, University of Hawaii, Honolulu 96822, USA.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Baron
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Owen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tennyson
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Ballester
mesh_terms: D055580:Astronomical Phenomena; D001256:Astronomy; D001272:Atmosphere; D005118:Extraterrestrial Environment; D006838:Hydrocarbons; D018538:Jupiter; D011522:Protons; D013055:Spectrophotometry, Infrared; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D014316:Tritium
chemical_list: D006838:Hydrocarbons; D011522:Protons; D014316:Tritium