Europa's role in the Jupiter system

这个项目的目标是确定从木卫二到木星等离子体层的大气逃逸速率的极限。这项研究将限制木卫二大气的重要特性，包括从地下海洋中喷出的水的存在。为了实现其目标，该项目将对木卫二等离子体薄片进行建模，以确定等离子体扩散概率、寿命和质量加载率。这项工作更广泛的影响包括培养本科生和研究生。这项工作可以为未来是否有必要对木卫二进行专门的太空任务提供信息。

The goal of this program is to determine limits for the rate of atmospheric escape from the moon Europa into Jupiter's plasma sheet. The research will constrain important properties of Europa's atmosphere, including the presence of H2O vented from a subsurface ocean. To accomplish its goals, the project will model the Europa plasma sheet to determine plasma diffusion probabilities, lifetimes and mass loading rates.Broader impacts of the work include training of undergraduate and graduate students. The work could inform future decisions on whether a dedicated space mission to Europa is warranted.