Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9: impact on Jupiter and plume evolution

The smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) method uses three-dimensional simulations to analyze the impact of fragments of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 on Jupiter and the resultant plume evolution. The atmosphere received most of the initial kinetic energy of the fragment and the atmospheric gas exhibited dissociation and partial ionization. Upward expansion of resulting plume led to an explosive release of energy and density gradient of the ambient atmosphere forced upward expansion of plume.