Characteristics of charged dust inferred from the Cassini RPWS measurements in the vicinity of Enceladus

• The data obtained by the Cassini Radio and Plasma Wave Science (RPWS) instrument during the shallow (17.02.2005) and the steep (14.07.2005) crossings of the E-ring revealed a considerable electron depletion in proximity to Enceladus's orbit (the difference between the ion and electron densities can reach similar to 70 cm(-3)). Assuming that this depletion is a signature of the presence of charged dust particles, the main characteristics of dust down to submicron sized particles are derived. The differential size distribution is found to be well described by a power law with an index mu similar to 5.5-6 for the lower size limit a(min) = 0.03 mu m and mu similar to 7.3-8 for a(min) = 0.1 mu m. The calculated average integral dust number density is weakly affected by values of mu and a(min). For a greater than or similar to 0.1 mu m, both flybys gave the maximum dust density about 0.1-0.3 cm(-3) in the vicinity of Enceladus. Our results imply that the dust structure near Enceladus is characterized by approximately the same vertical length scale of 8000 km and reaches a maximum at the same radial distance (displaced outward of the orbit of Enceladus) as found by Kempf et al. [2008. The E-ring in the vicinity of Enceladus. Spatial distribution and properties of the ring particles. Icarus 193, 420-437], from the dust impact data.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Fusion, plasma och rymdfysik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Fusion, Plasma and Space Physics (hsv//eng)

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Saturn moons

E-ring

Cassini

Dust size distribution

Dusty plasma

e-ring

solar-system

plasma

saturn

particles

august

Plasma physics with fusion

Plasmafysik med fusion

Physics

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)