A Search For N2 And Ammonia In Saturn's Inner Magnetosphere With Emphasis Near Enceladus

Details A Search For N2 And Ammonia In Saturn's Inner Magnetosphere With Emphasis Near Enceladus A Search For N2 And Ammonia In Saturn's Inner Magnetosphere With Emphasis Near Enceladus

Oct 2007

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2007dps....39.0206s&link_type=abstract

American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #39, #2.06; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 39, p.410

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Using data from the Cassini Plasma Spectrometer (CAPS) we detected nitrogen ions in Saturn's inner magnetosphere (3.5 Rs < L < 13.5 Rs) and showed that the likely dominant nitrogen source was Enceladus (Smith et al. 2005). This discovery was contrary to the predictions that the dominant nitrogen sources were either Titan's atmosphere (Smith et al. 2004) or from sputtering of nitrogen containing icy satellite surfaces (Sittler et al 2005). The subsequent discovery of the Enceladus geysers with an atomic mass 28 component (N2 and/or CO) (Waite et al, 2005) confirmed Enceladus as an active source in Saturn's magnetosphere. We showed that if some of the mass 28 detected by the Ion Neutral Mass Spectrometer is N2, a molecular nitrogen source from the Enceladus geysers could produce the N+ we detect (Smith et al, 2007). However, the N+ could also be produced by ammonia species from deep inside Enceladus (Matson et al, 2006). Identification of the parent nitrogen species is critical for understanding the mechanisms that make Enceladus geologically active. We are conducting an exhaustive study of the CAPS data to determine if N2+, NH3+, NH2+, or NH+ is present in Saturn's magnetosphere with particular emphasis near Enceladus. Here, we present results indicating the possible presence of N2 and a possible indication of ammonia species as well.

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