The magnetic field of Jupiter rotates with the planet in about 10 hours, while Io orbits Jupiter in 1.8 days. As a result, a doughnut shaped region around the orbit of Io becomes filled with a hot ionized gas (a plasma). This region, which is illustrated in the above figure, is called the Io Plasma Torus.
How is the Io plasma torus formed?
The most famous example of this is the Io plasma torus, which is produced by the ionization of roughly 1 ton per second of oxygen and sulfur from the tenuous atmosphere of Jupiter’s volcanic moon Io. Before being ionized, these particles are part of a neutral torus, also centered on the orbit of Io.
What is plasma in tokamak?
The heart of a tokamak is its doughnut-shaped vacuum chamber. Inside, under the influence of extreme heat and pressure, gaseous hydrogen fuel becomes a plasma—a hot, electrically charged gas. In a star as in a fusion device, plasmas provide the environment in which light elements can fuse and yield energy.
How do magnets contain plasma?
By setting up magnetic field lines toroidally around the interior of the tokamak , the ions and electrons in the plasma are forced to travel tightly around these field lines, preventing them from escaping the vessel. Extra fields help shape the plasma and hold it stable within the tokamak interior.
What is the Io torus what is its source?
Source: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics Its thin atmosphere is made up largely of sulfur oxides. As Io orbits, neutral gas particles escape its atmosphere and collide with electrons, giving rise to a donut-shaped cloud of ionized particles around Jupiter, known as the Io plasma torus.
Why does Jupiter have radiation?
The huge region around the planet where Jupiter’s magnetic field controls the environment is called its magnetosphere. It is Jupiter’s combination of a strong magnetic field, Io’s prodigious source, and the magnetic coupling of charged particles to the planet’s rapid (10-hour) spin that drives the intense radiation.
Can plasma be manipulated?
Because plasmas are so hot, the only way to control them is using magnets. Electricity and magnetism are very closely related (see electromagnets). This means that moving charges, such as the electrons in a plasma, can behave as a magnet and be affected by a magnetic field.
What is cold plasma?
Cold plasma is a partially ionised gas comprising ions, electrons, ultraviolet photons and reactive neutrals such as radicals, excited and ground-state molecules.
Is plasma attracted to magnets?
Plasmas consist of charged particles—positive nuclei and negative electrons—that can be shaped and confined by magnetic forces. Like iron filings in the presence of a magnet, particles in the plasma will follow magnetic field lines.
Is there oxygen on Io?
Only slightly larger than our own planet’s moon, Io is the most volcanically active place in the solar system. Its thin atmosphere is made up largely of sulfur oxides. Some of the particles escape from Io’s gravity and form clouds of neutral sulfur and oxygen.
Is Io moon habitable?
Io is generally considered a poor candidate for life because of all the radiation Jupiter blasts it with. In addition, no organic molecules have been detected on its surface, and it has only an extremely thin atmosphere devoid of detectable water vapor.
What is the Io plasma torus made of?
The Io plasma torus is created by neutral atmospheric gases such as sulfur dioxide. These ions are created by the part of sunlight and bombardment by the of the plasma torus.
What are the characteristics of a torus chamber?
The characteristic torus -shaped chamber is clad with graphite to help withstand the extreme heat. A tokamak ( / ˈtoʊkəmæk /; Russian: Токамáк) is a device which uses a powerful magnetic field to confine plasma in the shape of a torus.
Are tokamaks the future of plasma confinement?
Fusion energy scientists believe that tokamaks are the leading plasma confinement concept for future fusion power plants. In a tokamak, magnetic field coils confine plasma particles to allow the plasma to achieve the conditions necessary for fusion.
How does the Io plasma torus rotate around Jupiter?
Because of its shape, it is called the Io plasma torus. It rotates with Jupiter with a 10 hour period, while Io and its accompanying neutral gas ring requires 42 hours to revolve around Jupiter. Because Jupiter’s magnetic field is tilted, the Io plasma torus rotation has a wobble or shimmy, like a car tire with a bent hub (see animation).
