Measurements of the polarization and angular extent of the decimetric radiation of Jupiter

Abstract

Interferometric measurements of the non-thermal radiation from Jupiter have been made at 960 and 1390 Mc/s These yield the flux density and polarization of the source and its over-all dimensions in the polar and equatorial directions. The measured values can be accounted for by synchrotron radiation from electrons trapped in a Jovian Van Allen Belt Variations in the intensity and plane of polarization of the 1390-Mc/s radiation suggest that Jupiter's magnetic axis is inclined at 9 to its rotational axis The magnetic poles are at System III longitudes of 200 and 20 . It is noteworthy that the pol at 200 coincides with the principal decameter radio source.