Physics
Scientific paper
Dec 2003
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2003agufmsm11b..06b&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2003, abstract #SM11B-06
Physics
2732 Magnetosphere Interactions With Satellites And Rings, 2736 Magnetosphere/Ionosphere Interactions, 6062 Satellites, 6280 Saturnian Satellites, 7823 Ionization Processes
Scientific paper
On its orbit around Saturn Titan interacts with the magnetospheric plasma that is more or less corotating with Saturn. Titan's dense neutral atmosphere (and ionosphere) and the trans-alfvenic plasma environment form a challenging constellation from a plasma physical point of view. The approaching Cassini spacecraft gives us the opportunity to study this interesting situation in situ. In order to understand what Cassini is going to meassure we have to develop numerical models. Our recently developed 3D MHD model includes the following features that have crucial impacts on the interaction: (1) The model neutral atmosphere includes the two species CH4 and N2 which are known to be the major constituants of Titan's atmosphere. (2) Together with the solar euv spectrum and the two free parameters Saturnian local time (SLT) and sub solar latitude (SSL) we are able to calculate realistic 3D distributions of the photoionization rates for distinct condions (e.g. Cassini fly-by times). Although photoionization is the main source of ionospheric plasma production, ionization due to magnetospheric electrons plays also an important role at least on the nightside of Titan. (3) Our 3D time dependent flux tube model includes the effect of the magnetospheric electrons, calculates ionization rates by electron impact, and takes into account heat conduction along the magnetic field lines. All these features are embedded in the MHD model in order to come close to the conditions during the Cassini fly-bys.
Backes Heiko
Neubauer Fritz Manfred
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