New Possibilities of Radioastronomical Diagnostics of the Jovian Magnetosphere Using the Observed Polarization of its Decameter Radio Emission

We discuss possibilities of diagnostics of the Jovian magnetosphere based on the results of measurements of the polarization characteristics of the decameter radio emission. It is shown that the essentially elliptical polarization of that radiation and its generation at frequencies near the local electron gyrofrequency opens new possibilities for radioastronomical diagnostics of the Jovian magnetosphere. The plasma distribution can be studied not only along the radiation path but also in the transverse direction, i.e., over latitudes. Moreover, since the relative position of the source and observer during a decameter noise storm is rather stable, it is possible to perform tomography of the magnetosphere (its diagnostics at different longitudes) using the planet rotation. We present the examples of diagnostics of different regions in the Jovian magnetosphere, such as sources of decameter radio emission, i.e., lower-magnetosphere regions located at a distance of about 1.5-2 R_J from the center of the planet, and the Io plasma torus located at a distance of about 6R_J from the center of the planet. It is pointed out that the number density of the magnetospheric plasma outside the Io magnetic flux tube is small (n 1 cm^-3 at the height of the gyroresonance level f_Be 30 MHz) while it is higher inside this flux tube at the same height: n 3 cm^-3. We estimate the variations in the number density of the plasma along the Io magnetic flux tube (n B, 1-1.8), determine the rate at which the integral plasma density varies over latitudes (d( n dz)/dh 2· 10³ cm^-3), and find the average number density of the plasma in the region where the radiation crosses the Io torus ( n 2· 10³ cm^-3).