We report the detection of electron
s due to photo-ionization of atomic oxygen and carbon dioxide in the Venu
s atmo
sphere by
solar helium 30.4 nm photon
s. The detection wa
s by the Analyzer of Space Pla
sma and Energetic Atom
s (ASPERA-4) Electron Spectrometer (ELS) on the Venu
s Expre
ss (VEx) European Space Agency (ESA) mi
ssion. Characteri
stic peak
s in energy for
such photoelectron
s have been predicted by Venu
s atmo
sphere/iono
sphere model
s. The ELS energy re
solution (Δ
E/
E![]()
src="http://www.
sciencedirect.com/
scidirimg/entitie
s/223c.gif" alt="not, vert,
similar" title="not, vert,
similar" border="0">7%) mean
s that the
se are the fir
st detailed mea
surement
s of
such electron
s. Con
sideration
s of ion production and tran
sport in the atmo
sphere of Venu
s sugge
st that the ob
served photoelectron peak
s are due primarily to ionization of atomic oxygen.