| 1. |
- Bertucci, C., et al.
(author)
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Structure of Titan's mid-range magnetic tail : Cassini magnetometer observations during the T9 flyby
- 2007
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In: Geophysical Research Letters. - 0094-8276 .- 1944-8007. ; 34:24, s. L24S02-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We analyze the magnetic structure of Titan's mid-range magnetic tail (5-6 Titan radii downstream from the moon) during Cassini's T9 flyby. Cassini magnetometer (MAG) measurements reveal a well-defined, induced magnetic tail consisting of two lobes and a distinct central current sheet. MAG observations also indicate that Saturn's background magnetic field is close to the moon's orbital plane and that the magnetospheric flow has a significant component in the Saturn-Titan direction. The analysis of MAG data in a coordinate system based on the orientation of the background magnetic field and an estimation of the incoming flow direction suggests that Titan's magnetic tail is extremely asymmetric. An important source of these asymmetries is the connection of the inbound tail lobe and the outbound tail lobe to the dayside and nightside hemispheres of Titan, respectively. Another source could be the perturbations generated by changes in the upstream conditions.
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| 2. |
- Bertucci, C., et al.
(author)
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Titan's interaction with the supersonic solar wind
- 2015
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In: Geophysical Research Letters. - 0094-8276 .- 1944-8007. ; 42:2, s. 193-200
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- After 9years in the Saturn system, the Cassini spacecraft finally observed Titan in the supersonic and super-Alfvenic solar wind. These unique observations reveal that Titan's interaction with the solar wind is in many ways similar to unmagnetized planets Mars and Venus and active comets in spite of the differences in the properties of the solar plasma in the outer solar system. In particular, Cassini detected a collisionless, supercritical bow shock and a well-defined induced magnetosphere filled with mass-loaded interplanetary magnetic field lines, which drape around Titan's ionosphere. Although the flyby altitude may not allow the detection of an ionopause, Cassini reports enhancements of plasma density compatible with plasma clouds or streamers in the flanks of its induced magnetosphere or due to an expansion of the induced magnetosphere. Because of the upstream conditions, these observations may be also relevant to other bodies in the outer solar system such as Pluto, where kinetic processes are expected to dominate.
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| 3. |
- Bunce, E. J., et al.
(author)
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Cassini nightside observations of the oscillatory motion of Saturn's northern auroral oval
- 2014
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In: Journal of Geophysical Research - Space Physics. - 2169-9380. ; 119:5, s. 3528-3543
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In recent years we have benefitted greatly from the first in-orbit multi-wavelength images of Saturn's polar atmosphere from the Cassini spacecraft. Specifically, images obtained from the Cassini UltraViolet Imaging Spectrograph (UVIS) provide an excellent view of the planet's auroral emissions, which in turn give an account of the large-scale magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling and dynamics within the system. However, obtaining near-simultaneous views of the auroral regions with in situ measurements of magnetic field and plasma populations at high latitudes is more difficult to routinely achieve. Here we present an unusual case, during Revolution 99 in January 2009, where UVIS observes the entire northern UV auroral oval during a 2h interval while Cassini traverses the magnetic flux tubes connecting to the auroral regions near 21 LT, sampling the related magnetic field, particle, and radio and plasma wave signatures. The motion of the auroral oval evident from the UVIS images requires a careful interpretation of the associated latitudinally oscillating magnetic field and auroral field-aligned current signatures, whereas previous interpretations have assumed a static current system. Concurrent observations of the auroral hiss (typically generated in regions of downward directed field-aligned current) support this revised interpretation of an oscillating current system. The nature of the motion of the auroral oval evident in the UVIS image sequence, and the simultaneous measured motion of the field-aligned currents (and related plasma boundary) in this interval, is shown to be related to the northern hemisphere magnetosphere oscillation phase. This is in agreement with previous observations of the auroral oval oscillatory motion.
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| 4. |
- Cravens, T. E., et al.
(author)
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The Ion Composition of Saturn's Equatorial Ionosphere as Observed by Cassini
- 2019
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In: Geophysical Research Letters. - : American Geophysical Union (AGU). - 0094-8276 .- 1944-8007. ; 46:12, s. 6315-6321
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The Cassini Orbiter made the first in situ measurements of the upper atmosphere and ionosphere of Saturn in 2017. The Ion and Neutral Mass Spectrometer (INMS) found molecular hydrogen and helium as well as minor species including water, methane, ammonia, and organics. INMS ion mode measurements of light ion species (H+, H-2(+), H-3(+), and He+) and Radio and Plasma Wave Science instrument measurements of electron densities are presented. A photochemical analysis of the INMS and Radio and Plasma Wave Science data indicates that the major ion species near the ionospheric peak must be heavy and molecular with a short chemical lifetime. A quantitative explanation of measured H+ and H-3(+) densities requires that they chemically react with one or more heavy neutral molecular species that have mixing ratios of about 100 ppm.
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| 5. |
- Edberg, Niklas J. T., et al.
(author)
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Effects of Saturn's magnetospheric dynamics on Titan's ionosphere
- 2015
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In: Journal of Geophysical Research - Space Physics. - 2169-9380 .- 2169-9402. ; 120:10, s. 8884-8898
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We use the Cassini Radio and Plasma Wave Science/Langmuir probe measurements of the electron density from the first 110 flybys of Titan to study how Saturn's magnetosphere influences Titan's ionosphere. The data is first corrected for biased sampling due to varying solar zenith angle and solar energy flux (solar cycle effects). We then present results showing that the electron density in Titan's ionosphere, in the altitude range 1600-2400km, is increased by about a factor of 2.5 when Titan is located on the nightside of Saturn (Saturn local time (SLT) 21-03h) compared to when on the dayside (SLT 09-15 h). For lower altitudes (1100-1600km) the main dividing factor for the ionospheric density is the ambient magnetospheric conditions. When Titan is located in the magnetospheric current sheet, the electron density in Titan's ionosphere is about a factor of 1.4 higher compared to when Titan is located in the magnetospheric lobes. The factor of 1.4 increase in between sheet and lobe flybys is interpreted as an effect of increased particle impact ionization from approximate to 200eV sheet electrons. The factor of 2.5 increase in electron density between flybys on Saturn's nightside and dayside is suggested to be an effect of the pressure balance between thermal plus magnetic pressure in Titan's ionosphere against the dynamic pressure and energetic particle pressure in Saturn's magnetosphere.
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| 6. |
- Engelhardt, Ilka. A. D., et al.
(author)
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Plasma regions, charged dust and field-aligned currents near Enceladus
- 2015
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In: Planetary and Space Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 0032-0633 .- 1873-5088. ; 117, s. 453-469
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We use data from several instruments on board Cassini to determine the characteristics of the plasma and dust regions around Saturn's moon Enceladus. For this we utilize the Langmuir probe and the electric antenna connected to the wideband receiver of the radio and plasma wave science (RPWS) instrument package as well as the magnetometer (MAG). We show that there are several distinct plasma and dust regions around Enceladus. Specifically they are the plume filled with neutral gas, plasma, and charged dust, with a distinct edge boundary region. Here we present observations of a new distinct plasma region, being a dust trail on the downstream side. This is seen both as a difference in ion and electron densities, indicating the presence of charged dust, and directly from the signals created on RPWS antennas by the dust impacts on the spacecraft. Furthermore, we show a very good scaling of these two independent dust density measurement methods over four orders of magnitude in dust density, thereby for the first time cross-validating them. To establish equilibrium with the surrounding plasma the dust becomes negatively charged by attracting free electrons. The dust distribution follows a simple power law and the smallest dust particles in the dust trail region are found to be 10 nm in size as well as in the edge region around the plume. Inside the plume the presence of even smaller particles of about 1 nm is inferred. From the magnetic field measurements we infer strong field-aligned currents at the geometrical edge of Enceladus.
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| 7. |
- Farrell, W. M., et al.
(author)
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An estimate of the dust pickup current at Enceladus
- 2014
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In: Icarus. - : Elsevier BV. - 0019-1035 .- 1090-2643. ; 239, s. 217-221
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We demonstrate that the acceleration of submicron dust originating at Enceladus by a reduced co-rotating E-field is capable of creating a dust pickup current perpendicular to the magnetic field with values ranging from 3 to 15 kA (depending upon the effective grain charge). Such a current represents a new contribution to the total pickup current in the region. As such, we suggest that dust pickup currents, along with ion and electron pickup currents, are all active within the plume.
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| 8. |
- Farrell, W. M., et al.
(author)
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Electron density dropout near Enceladus in the context of water-vapor and water-ice
- 2009
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In: Geophysical Research Letters. - 0094-8276 .- 1944-8007. ; 36:10, s. L10203-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- On 12 March 2008, the Cassini spacecraft made a close encounter with the Saturnian moon Enceladus, passing within 52 km of the moon. The spacecraft trajectory was intentionally-oriented in a southerly direction to create a close alignment with the intense water-dominated plumes emitted from the south polar region. During the passage, the Cassini Radio and Plasma Wave System (RPWS) detected two distinct radio signatures: 1) Impulses associated with small water-ice dust grain impacts and 2) an upper hybrid (UH) resonance emission that both intensified and displayed a sharp frequency decrease in the near-vicinity of the moon. The frequency decrease of the UH emission is associated with an unexpectedly sharp decrease in electron density from similar to 90 cl/cm(3) to below 20 cl/cm(3) that occurs on a time scale of a minute near the closest encounter with the moon. In this work, we consider a number of scenarios to explain this sharp electron dropout, but surmise that electron absorption by ice grains is the most likely process.
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| 9. |
- Farrell, W. M., et al.
(author)
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Ion trapping by dust grains : Simulation applications to the Enceladus plume
- 2017
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In: Journal of Geophysical Research - Planets. - : AMER GEOPHYSICAL UNION. - 2169-9097 .- 2169-9100. ; 122:4, s. 729-743
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Using a particle-in-cell electrostatic simulation, we examine the conditions that allow low-energy ions, like those produced in the Enceladus plume, to be attracted and trapped within the sheaths of negatively charged dust grains. The conventional wisdom is that all new ions produced in the Enceladus plume are free to get picked up (i.e., accelerated by the local E field to then undergo vB acceleration). However, we suggest herein that the presence of submicron-charged dust in the plume impedes this pickup process since the local grain electric field greatly exceeds the corotation E fields. The simulations demonstrate that cold ions will tend to accelerate toward the negatively charged grains and become part of the ion plasma sheath. These trapped ions will move with the grains, exiting the plume region at the dust speed. We suggest that Cassini's Langmuir probe is measuring the entire ion population (free and trapped ions), while the Cassini magnetometer detects the magnetic perturbations associated with pickup currents from the smaller population of free ions, with this distinction possibly reconciling the ongoing debate in the literature on the ion density in the plume.
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| 10. |
- Farrell, W. M., et al.
(author)
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Mass unloading along the inner edge of the Enceladus plasma torus
- 2008
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In: Geophysical Research Letters. - 0094-8276 .- 1944-8007. ; 35:2, s. L02203-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A major discovery made by the Cassini spacecraft at Saturn was the substantial mass ejection from the south pole of Enceladus. Previous studies show that this ejected gas can become ionized and subsequently load mass onto the connecting magnetic field lines near the moon. Radial diffusion then allows the mass-loaded field lines to move outward to similar to 15 R-s and inward to similar to 2 R-s, forming a plasma torus. We demonstrate herein that the mass is also '' unloaded '' along the inner edge of this plasma torus the edge incident with the plasma-absorbing A-ring. Interpreting down-drifting z-mode tones from active sites along the inner edge of the ion torus as emission near the local electron plasma frequency, f(pe), we can remotely-monitor this reduction in plasma density along the torus inner edge as a function time. We find that the down-drift of the z-mode tones corresponds typically to a plasma density change dn/dt similar to - 5x10(-4)/cm(3)-s and when integrated over an annulus defined by the outer edge of the A-ring, corresponds to a mass loss of similar to 40 kg/s. Using the z-mode tones, we also find locations where plasma mass from the ring-ionosphere is possibly loaded at 1 - 2 kg/s onto field lines near the Cassini gap.
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