| 1. |
- Holmberg, M. K. G., et al.
(författare)
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Cassini-Plasma Interaction Simulations Revealing the Cassini Ion Wake Characteristics : Implications for In-Situ Data Analyses and Ion Temperature Estimates
- 2021
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Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research - Space Physics. - : American Geophysical Union (AGU). - 2169-9380 .- 2169-9402. ; 126:8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We have used Spacecraft Plasma Interaction Software (SPIS) simulations to study the characteristics (i.e., dimensions, ion depletion, and evolution with the changing spacecraft attitude) of the Cassini ion wake. We focus on two regions, the plasma disk at 4.5-€“4.7 RS, where the most prominent wake structure will be formed, and at 7.6 RS, close to the maximum distance at which a wake structure can be detected in the Cassini Langmuir probe (LP) data. This study also reveals how the ion wake and the spacecraft plasma interaction have impacted the Cassini LP measurements in the studied environments, for example, with a strong decrease in the measured ion density but with minor interference from the photoelectrons and secondary electrons originating from the spacecraft. The simulated ion densities and spacecraft potentials are in very good agreement with the LP measurements. This shows that SPIS is an excellent tool to use for analyses of LP data, when spacecraft material properties and environmental parameters are known and used correctly. The simulation results are also used to put constraints on the ion temperature estimates in the inner magnetosphere of Saturn. The best agreement between the simulated and measured ion density is obtained using an ion temperature of 8 eV at ∼4.6 RS. This study also shows that SPIS simulations can be used in order to better constrain plasma parameters in regions where accurate measurements are not available.
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| 2. |
- Huybrighs, H. L. F., et al.
(författare)
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An Active Plume Eruption on Europa During Galileo Flyby E26 as Indicated by Energetic Proton Depletions
- 2020
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Ingår i: Geophysical Research Letters. - : American Geophysical Union (AGU). - 0094-8276 .- 1944-8007. ; 47:10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Strong depletions of energetic protons (115-244 keV) were observed during Galileo flyby E26 of Europa. We simulate the flux of energetic protons using a Monte Carlo particle backtracing code and show that energetic proton depletions during E26 are reproduced by taking into account the perturbations of the electromagnetic fields calculated by magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations and charge exchange with a global atmosphere and plume. A depletion feature occurring shortly after closest approach is driven by plume associated charge exchange, or a combination with plume associated field perturbations. We therefore conclude, with a new method and independent data set, that Galileo could have encountered a plume during E26.
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| 3. |
- Huybrighs, H. L. F., et al.
(författare)
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Energetic Proton Losses Reveal Io's Extended and Longitudinally Asymmetrical Atmosphere
- 2024
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Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research - Space Physics. - : American Geophysical Union (AGU). - 2169-9380 .- 2169-9402. ; 129:7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Along the I24, I27, and I31 flybys of Io (1999-2001), the Energetic Particle Detector (EPD) onboard the Galileo spacecraft observed localized regions of energetic protons losses (155-1,250 keV). Using back-tracking particle simulations combined with a prescribed atmospheric distribution and a magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) model of the plasma/atmosphere interaction, we investigate the possible causes of these depletions. We focus on a limited region within two Io radii, which is dominated by Io's SO2 atmosphere. Our results show that charge exchange of protons with the SO2 atmosphere, absorption by the surface and the configuration of the electromagnetic field contribute to the observed proton depletion along the Galileo flybys. In the 155-240 keV energy range, charge exchange is either a major or the dominant loss process, depending on the flyby altitude. In the 540-1,250 keV range, as the charge exchange cross sections are small, the observed decrease of the proton flux is attributed to absorption by the surface and the perturbed electromagnetic fields, which divert the protons away from the detector. From a comparison between the modeled losses and the data we find indications of an extended atmosphere on the day/downstream side of Io, a lack of atmospheric collapse on the night/upstream side as well as a more global extended atmospheric component (>1 Io radius). Our results demonstrate that observations and modeling of proton depletion around the moon constitute an important tool to constrain the electromagnetic field configuration around Io and the radial and longitudinal atmospheric distribution, which is still poorly understood.
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| 4. |
- Huybrighs, H. L. F., et al.
(författare)
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Reply to Comment on "An Active Plume Eruption on Europa During Galileo Flyby E26 as Indicated by Energetic Proton Depletions"
- 2021
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Ingår i: Geophysical Research Letters. - : American Geophysical Union (AGU). - 0094-8276 .- 1944-8007. ; 48:18
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In Huybrighs et al. (2020, https://doi.org/10.1029/2020gl087806) we investigated energetic proton depletions along Galileo's Europa flyby E26. Based on a particle tracing analysis, we proposed that depletions are caused by perturbed electromagnetic fields combined with atmospheric charge exchange and possible plumes. One depletion feature identified as a plume signature was shown to be an artifact (Jia et al., 2021, https://doi.org/10.1029/2020gl091550). Despite that, here we emphasize that Huybrighs et al. (2020, https://doi.org/10.1029/2020gl087806) demonstrates that plumes can cause proton depletions and that these features should be sought after. Furthermore, the conclusions on the importance of perturbed electromagnetic fields and atmospheric charge exchange on the depletions are unaffected. We suggest that the artifact's cause is a mistagging of protons as heavier ions by EPD. The artifact prevents us from confirming or excluding that there is a plume-associated depletion. We also address comments on the MHD simulations and demonstrate that 540-1,040 keV losses are not necessarily inconsistent with 115-244 keV losses by plume-associated charge exchange. Plain Language Summary In Huybrighs et al. (2020, https://doi.org/10.1029/2020gl087806) we identified why fast protons were disappearing during Europa flyby E26 by Galileo. Beyond impacting on the surface, we identified several contributing factors: First, perturbed electromagnetic fields resulting from the interaction of Europa's atmosphere with the magnetospheric plasma, which deflect the protons. Second, atmospheric charge exchange. We also showed that a water plume eruption could cause a region in which disappearances occur due to a combination of charge exchange and magnetic deflections. We identified a 20s decrease of protons as evidence of such a plume. However, an artifact in the data reported by Jia et al. (2021, https://doi.org/10.1029/2020gl091550) coincides with this 20s moment and prevents us from reaching a conclusion on the occurrence of a plume-associated depletion. We emphasize that our conclusions on the importance of perturbed fields and charge exchange are unaffected, as the artifact only affects a short segment of the data we analyzed. Furthermore, our results demonstrate that plumes can cause proton depletions and that these features should be sought after in the data.
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| 5. |
- Huybrighs, H. L.F., et al.
(författare)
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Europa's Perturbed Fields and Induced Dipole Affect Energetic Proton Depletions During Distant Alfvén Wing Flybys
- 2023
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Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research - Space Physics. - : American Geophysical Union (AGU). - 2169-9380 .- 2169-9402. ; 128:9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We investigate the causes of energetic proton (80–540 keV) depletions measured during the two most distant flybys of Europa by Galileo, E17 and E25A, which encountered the Alfvén wings. First, by simulating the proton flux with a Monte Carlo particle tracing code we investigate the effect of: electromagnetic field perturbations, the induced dipole, atmospheric charge exchange and plumes. Inhomogeneous fields associated with the Alfvén wings and the ionosphere strongly affect the depletions. For homogeneous fields the depletion along the trajectory is focused on a narrow pitch angle range and has no structure, whereas the depletion for perturbed (inhomogeneous) fields represents a wider and complex structure. Furthermore, also the induced dipole alters the depletion structure. The effect of plumes (density 2.5 × 1015 m−3) and charge exchange on the proton depletion is minor. Second, we compare the simulations to the proton measurements. The simulations with inhomogeneous fields describe the data qualitatively better than the homogeneous case, suggesting that indeed field perturbations are responsible for the measured losses. We attribute discrepancies between the simulations and the proton measurements to discrepancies between the simulated and real fields. We argue that simulating the fields along the trajectory is a good first step, but that ideally the energetic ion flux is reconstructed well to gain confidence in the interpretation of the simulated magnetic field. In conclusion, energetic ion observations along distant flybys through the Alfvén wings are suitable for isolating the characteristics of the global configuration of the magnetospheric interaction region of Europa (or other moons).
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