Cassini Observations of Saturn's Magnetotail Region: Preliminary Results

Details Cassini Observations of Saturn's Magnetotail Region: Preliminary Results Cassini Observations of Saturn's Magnetotail Region: Preliminary Results

Dec 2007

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2007agufmsm53a1088s&link_type=abstract

American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2007, abstract #SM53A-1088

Physics

2744 Magnetotail, 2756 Planetary Magnetospheres (5443, 5737, 6033), 5443 Magnetospheres (2756), 5737 Magnetospheres (2756)

Scientific paper

Using Cassini thermal plasma, hot plasma and magnetic field observations for several intervals between the dawn meridian of Saturn's outer magnetosphere and Saturn's magnetotail region, we investigate the structure of the magnetotail, plasma and magnetic field properties within tail-like current sheet regions and ion flows within the magnetotail regions. We use Cassini Plasma Spectrometer (CAPS) Ion Mass Spectrometer (IMS), Electron Plasma Spectrometer (ELS) observations, MIMI LEMMS ion and electron observations and Cassini magnetometer data (MAG) to characterize the plasma environment. IMS observations are used to measure plasma flow velocities from which one can infer rotation versus convective flows. IMS composition measurements are used to trace the source of plasma from the inner magnetosphere (protons, H2+ and water group ions) versus an external solar wind source (protons and He++ ions). A critical parameter for both models is the strength of the convection electric field with respect to the rotational electric field for the large scale magnetosphere. For example, are there significant return flows (i.e., negative radial velocities, VR < 0) and/or plasmoids (VR > 0) within the magnetotail region? Initial preliminary evidence of such out flows and return flows was presented by Sittler et al. [2007a,b]. This talk complements the more global analysis by McAndrews et al. [2007].

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Cassini Observations of Saturn's Magnetotail Region: Preliminary Results does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Cassini Observations of Saturn's Magnetotail Region: Preliminary Results, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Cassini Observations of Saturn's Magnetotail Region: Preliminary Results will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1427080