Physics
Scientific paper
Dec 2005
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2005agufm.p33b0242b&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2005, abstract #P33B-0242
Physics
5719 Interactions With Particles And Fields, 5780 Tori And Exospheres, 6265 Planetary Rings, 7807 Charged Particle Motion And Acceleration, 7823 Ionization Processes (2423)
Scientific paper
Plasma measurements were performed by the CAssini Plasma Spectrometer (CAPS) in the vicinity of Saturn's rings during orbit insertion on July 1, 2004. An analysis of the data has revealed the presence of an ionosphere above the A and B rings with O2+ and O+ as major ions, suggesting the existence of an atmosphere made up of molecular oxygen (Young et al., 2005, Tokar et al., 2005). Oxygen molecules, originating from radiation-induced decomposition of ice, do not stick to the surfaces of the ring particles at the relevant temperature. It has been suggested that the molecules form an atmospheric layer in the vicinity of the rings, which could give rise to the observed ions. Here, we present results of a study based on a hybrid model of the ring ionosphere that uses a test-particle approach for ions and neutrals and incorporates a fluid of electrons. The model makes use of Monte Carlo techniques and takes into account chemical processes such as photo-ionization and charge exchange, as well as plasma processes leading to ion acceleration. Published plasma data from CAPS were used as constraint and the model provides a very satisfactory fit with ion data.
Baragiola Raúl A.
Berthelier Jean-Jacques
Bouhram Mehdi
Crary Frank J.
Illiano J.
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