National Aeronautics and Space Administration

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Johnson et al. 1998

Johnson, R.E., R.M. Killen, J.H. Waite, Jr., and W.S. Lewis, 1998: Europa's surface composition and sputter-produced ionosphere. Geophys. Res. Lett., 25, 3257-3260, doi:10.1029/98GL02565.

The efficient sputtering and decomposition of Europa's regolith by energetic particles produces an atmosphere representative of its surface composition. In addition to O₂ and H₂ from the decomposition of ice, we show taht molecules representative of organics and salts will be present in ionic form at levels detectable using an ion mass spectrometer on an orbiting spacecraft. Such an instrument can also measure isotope ratios to determine surface age.

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@article{jo04000r,
  author={Johnson, R. E. and Killen, R. M. and Waite, Jr., J. H. and Lewis, W. S.},
  title={Europa's surface composition and sputter-produced ionosphere},
  year={1998},
  journal={Geophys. Res. Lett.},
  volume={25},
  pages={3257--3260},
  doi={10.1029/98GL02565},
}

TY  - JOUR
ID  - jo04000r
AU  - Johnson, R. E.
AU  - Killen, R. M.
AU  - Waite, J. H., Jr.
AU  - Lewis, W. S.
PY  - 1998
TI  - Europa's surface composition and sputter-produced ionosphere
JA  - Geophys. Res. Lett.
VL  - 25
SP  - 3257
EP  - 3260
DO  - 10.1029/98GL02565
ER  -

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