  Energetic electrons from the inner radiation belt provide significant
electric charging of the surfaces of Jupiter's moons Thebe and Amalthea whose
orbits are located within this radiation belt. We estimate theoretically the
electric fields in the vicinity of the polar regions of Thebe and Amalthea and
argue that these fields are sufficient for lofting of micron and
submicron-sized dust grains from the surfaces of the moons. Thus, the lofting
of charged dust grains in the electric fields can be considered as an
additional source supplying dust to the gossamer rings in addition to dust
ejection by micrometeoroid impacts onto the moons' surfaces. The suggested
mechanism can explain qualitatively some peculiarities of the dust grain
distributions within the gossamer rings.
