Sodium at Europa

Author： Johnson R.E.  

Publisher： Academic Press

ISSN： 0019-1035

Source： Icarus, Vol.143, Iss.2, 2000-02, pp. : 429-433

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Abstract

The observations of atomic sodium in Europa's atmosphere (M. E. Brown and R. E. Hill 1996, Nature 380, 229–231, and an analytic model for the sputter-produced corona are used to estimate the Na loss rate from Europa. This loss rate appears to be larger than the rate of implantation of Iogenic Na into Europa's surface when the local deflection of the incident ions is accounted for. Therefore, Europa's surface, like that of the Moon, Mercury, and Io, may be a net source of Na. The required surface sputtering rate, derived for radiation-induced decomposition of hydrated minerals and for sputtering of Na in ice, is used to estimate the average Na concentration in Europa's surface.

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