Energetic electron observations of Rhea's magnetospheric interaction

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More specifically, we show results of a phase-space density analysis, looking for evidence of energetic electron transport processes in the vicinity of Rhea's wake. We also perform energetic electron trajectory tracings in order to map regions where access of energetic electrons in Rhea's interaction region is forbidden. Such regions form because of complex energetic particle magnetic drifts downstream of Rhea, where the magnetospheric electric and magnetic fields are disturbed. We show that while our approach provides some qualitative explanation for some of the observations of electrons with energies above 100 keV, the lowest energy features in the MIMI/LEMMS dataset (20-100 keV) cannot be explained, especially those that extend upstream of Rhea and in a region that a plasma absorbing moon should, in theory, have no effect on the magnetospheric populations. Given that, in addition to the fact that Rhea orbits in a region of the magnetosphere that is thought be unstable against centrifugal interchange, we propose that the formation of Rhea's wake acts as a disturbance that helps enhance local magnetospheric interchange. Interchange driven disturbances, may then actually be the source of some of the unusual energetic electron observations. We also discuss this scenario in the context of additional published observations by the Cassini's cold plasma detector.

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