Time variations of the Jovian synchrotron radiation following the collisional impacts of comet Shoemaker-Levy 9-2. Flux enhancement induced by neutral atmospheric turbulence

The observed increase of the decimetric radio emission from Jupiter after the atmospheric impacts of comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 may be the result of enhanced radial diffusion driven by the neutral wind dynamo. A simple model is considered here which invokes an increase of the radial diffusion coefficient by a factor of about two in the magnetic flux shell within 5° of the impact site latitude. The explosion-related neutral wind flow should be of a transient nature such that a continuous increase in the synchrotron radiation could only be sustained as long as there was energy release in the Jovian atmosphere. After the comet impacts, the decimetric radio emission will return to its normal level within 40 days.