Detection and measurement of ice grains and gas distribution in the Enceladus plume by Cassini’s Ion Neutral Mass Spectrometer

Details Detection and measurement of ice grains and gas distribution in the Enceladus plume by Cassini’s Ion Neutral Mass Spectrometer Detection and measurement of ice grains and gas distribution in the Enceladus plume by Cassini’s Ion Neutral Mass Spectrometer

Dec 2009

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009agufm.p42a..01t&link_type=abstract

American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2009, abstract #P42A-01

Physics

[5405] Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets / Atmospheres, [5422] Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets / Ices, [6265] Planetary Sciences: Solar System Objects / Planetary Rings, [6280] Planetary Sciences: Solar System Objects / Saturnian Satellites

Scientific paper

We report on the measurements made by the Cassini Ion Neutral Mass Spectrometer (INMS) of the density and structure of Enceladus’ south polar plume during the flybys of 12 March and 9 October, 2008. Using detailed computer simulations of the INMS gas inlet to account for (i) the dependence of the inlet transmission on spacecraft orientation and (ii) water vapor adsorption in the inlet, we obtain a maximum plume density almost twice that suggested by the uncorrected INMS data. The proportionality of the density profile to the inverse square of the distance from the surface of Enceladus indicates uniform spreading of the plume vapor from the source. We also analyze the detection of ice grains by the INMS and find that, in contrast to the plume’s vapor component, the grains are concentrated within the plume jets seen in Cassini imaging, supporting the suggestion that the jets are composed of fine-grained ice. INMS measurements of the grain density and size are consistent with those reported by the CDA and VIMS teams. Our analysis of the gas-grain structure of the Enceladus plume should provide much needed constraints for future studies that require quantitative estimates of the plume density profile and magnitude.

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