Physics
Scientific paper
Oct 2008
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2008icar..197..519p&link_type=abstract
Icarus, Volume 197, Issue 2, p. 519-525.
Physics
17
Scientific paper
We present Cassini data revealing that protons between a few keV and about 100 keV energy are not stably trapped in Saturn's inner magnetosphere. Instead these ions are present only for relatively short times following injections. Injected protons are lost principally because the neutral gas cloud converts these particles to energetic neutral atoms via charge exchange. At higher energies, in the MeV to GeV range, protons are stably trapped between the orbits of the principal moons because the proton cross-section for charge exchange is very small at such energies. These protons likely result from cosmic ray albedo neutron decay (CRAND) and are lost principally to interactions with satellite surfaces and ring particles during magnetospheric radial diffusion. A main result of this work is to show that the dominant energetic proton loss and source processes are a function of proton energy. Surface sputtering by keV ions is revisited based on the reduced ion intensities observed. Relatively speaking, MeV ion and electron weathering is most important closer to Saturn, e.g. at Janus and Mimas, whereas keV ion weathering is most important farther out, at Dione and Rhea.
Armstrong Thomas P.
Cooper John F.
Hamilton Douglas C.
Johnson Robert E.
Jones Geraint H.
No associations
LandOfFree
Sources and losses of energetic protons in Saturn's magnetosphere 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 Sources and losses of energetic protons in Saturn's magnetosphere, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Sources and losses of energetic protons in Saturn's magnetosphere will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-852188