Following the previous detection of H3(+) in the southern auroral zone of Jupiter from its 2nu2 band, a search was made for the fundamental at 4 microns. Up to 42 lines of this band were detected in emission, at high resolution, on the auroral spot of each hemisphere. A rotational temperature was derived for the southern and northern zones, respectively, of 1000 + or - 40K and 835 + or - 50 K. The intensity of the lines was on the average two times stronger in the south than in the north. The 2nu2 band, which was sought in the north only on this occasion, was not detectable. A purely thermal mechanism for the H3(+) production is implied. Spatial extension and temporal variability of the excitation is discussed.
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Maillard et al. (1990) studied this question.