OBSERVATIONS OF JUPITER SYNCHROTRON-RADIATION AT 18 CM DURING THE COMET SHOEMAKER-LEVY/9 IMPACTS

The results of observations of Jupiter's synchrotron radiation during the period surrounding the impacts of comet Shoemaker-Levy/9 are reported. The observations were made at the Naval Research Laboratory's Maryland Point Observatory 85 foot radio antenna operating at 1665 MHz (18 cm). The data indicate that an increase in the intensity of the synchrotron emission of 23% took place over the full duration of the impact period. The increase was accompanied by two characteristic changes in the beaming curve: a flattening and the creation of brightness temperature variations on hourly timescales. We interpret the latter as longitudinal variations in the beaming curve which suggests a localized mechanism resulting in a redistribution of the radiating electrons in the Jovian radiation belts.