Energetic electrons in the magnetophere of Saturn

Physics

Scientific paper

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Cosmic Ray Albedo, Electron Distribution, Energy Spectra, High Energy Electrons, Planetary Magnetospheres, Radial Distribution, Saturn (Planet), Saturn Rings, Spectral Energy Distribution, Trajectory Analysis, Collimators, Data Reduction, Neutrons, Particle Decay, Pioneer 11 Space Probe, Spacecraft Trajectories

Scientific paper

The energy spectra and angular distributions of electrons observed by Pioneer 11 as a function of radial distance in the inner magnetosphere of Saturn are reanalyzed and phase space densities are then calculated. The radial dependence of phase space density requires a distributed loss process. The loss is greatest in the region of the E ring (5.5 less than L less than 8.5) and is attributed to collisions with the ring particles in agreement with earlier work by Van Allen et al. (1980b). Quantitative analysis yields the following properties of the E ring: the particle radii are in the range of 4 x 10-5 to 3.2 x 10-4 cm and the thickness of the ring is approximately 3 Rs. Between the inner edge of the E ring (5.5 Rs) and the outer edge of the A ring (2.3 Rs) there are more energetic electrons than can be supplied by radial diffusion from an external source. Detailed calculations show that a cosmic ray albedo neutron decay (CRAND) source in the A and B rings is a plausible source for this excess. The radial diffusion coefficient required to explain the E ring absorption and CRAND source for electrons is 1 x 10-12 greater than D0 greater than 3 x 10-12 Rs2/s, assuming that DLL = D0L3. As part of the reanalysis program, a method for the deconvolution of pitch angle distributions observed by simple detectors on a rotating spacecraft is developed. This process removes the instrumental response and rotational smear due to finite sampling periods and yields true angular distributions.

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