Why Do Energetic Particles In Saturn's Magnetosphere Vary Close To, But Not At The Planetary Rotation Period?

Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy

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Periodicities in energetic electrons observed by Voyager were associated with an "active” hemisphere (Carbary and Krimigis, 1982). The Cassini Magnetospheric Imaging Instrument (MIMI), in addition to energetic particle sensors, includes an ion and neutral camera (INCA) that images the magnetosphere in energetic neutral atoms (ENA). This sensor, in addition to identifying substorms at Saturn beyond the orbit of Titan (Mitchell et al, 2005), has observed periodic emissions from the magnetosphere lasting from a couple of days to well over a week (Paranicas et al, 2005). The observations suggest that particle injections: include a high proportion of oxygen, occur in the 7-10 RS range, arise episodically with a period very close to the nominal planetary rotation period (10.75 hours), and subsequently co-rotate with a period close to the planetary period. Initiation of the pulse within the magnetosphere is repeated approximately once per revolution at a particular region in local time, probably associated with a high conductivity anomaly in Saturn's ionosphere connected with zonal structure in the winds and/or the interior at relatively high latitudes (Kivelson et al and Mitchell et al, AGU, 2006). Departure of the observed period from that established by magnetic field and Saturn kilometric radiation measurements depends on details of the propagation of the signal through the magnetosphere, and on the spacecraft motion. The data suggest a fundamental change in the driving and propagation of the disturbance between the inner and outer magnetosphere.
Carbary, J.F., and S.M. Krimigis, Geophys. Res. Lett., 9, 1973-1976, 1982
Mitchell, D. G. et al, Geophys. Res. Lett., 32, L20S01, doi:10.1029/2005GL022647, 2005
Paranicas, C., et al., Geophys. Res. Lett., 32, L21101, doi:10.1029/2005GL023656, 2005.
Kurth, W.S. et al., A Saturnian Longitude System Based on a Variable Kilometric Radiation Period, submitted, Geophys. Res. Lett., 2006

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