Response
Issues: Background continuum emission has been underestimated
- Broadband non-thermal continuum radiation claimed to extend to high latitudes
- Thus it is claimed that RPI will not have adequate S/N ratio at most times and the range will be limited to much less than 4 Re
Response:
- Basis is on extrapolation of equatorial continuum observations
- Even Gurnett and Frank [1976] Hawkeye observations of continuum pertained to low latitudes
- Continuum radiation observed4 yr interval (Boardsen et al 1997)
- Continuum radiation observed only at low latitudes during 3 years of DE-1 data [Gurnett et al., 1983]
Conclusion: Impact on RPI operations due to background continuum radiation should be minimal