Model Predictions for the Encounters of Shoemaker-Levy 9 with the Jupiter Magnetosphere

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9400202 Shemansky The PIs propose to examine theory for the consequences of the encounter of comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 with the Jupiter system. The purpose is twofold: (1) the Jupiter environment may provide a unique insight into the composition, structure and physical chemistry of SL9 through the expected enhanced extraction of the atomic and molecular components of the solid into the magnetosphere through sputtering and desorption in the inner and outer regions, and heating of the grains in the Io torus, and (2) the transient introduced into the magnetosphere may be strong enough to allow an unprecedented exploration of the intrinsic source and diffusive loss processes controlling the undisturbed planetary system. Predictive abilities include established model codes that are utilized to calculate the detailed emission properties of atomic and molecular species excited by physical chemistry as well as the combined direct processes of electron and photon excitation. ***