Physics
Scientific paper
Dec 2008
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2008agufm.p21a1322a&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2008, abstract #P21A-1322
Physics
5435 Ionospheres (2459), 6281 Titan
Scientific paper
The ionosphere of Titan is mainly created by photoionisation by solar EUV radiation and electron impact ionisation from Saturn's magnetospheric plasma. This study investigates the relative contribution of solar radiation versus magnetospheric input. We show that Titan's ionosphere exhibits a highly complex structure that largely varies with solar illumination conditions. Our investigations are based on in-situ data from Radio and Plasma Wave Science (RPWS) observations combined to Ion and Neutral Mass Spectrometer (INMS) observations from several deep (< 1000 km) ionospheric passes by the Cassini spacecraft. By using Langmuir Probe (part of the RPWS) data we determine electron number density profiles, the altitude and maximum number density of the ionisation peaks for each flyby. In conclusion, we show that solar photons are the main ionisation source of Titan's dayside atmosphere. However, magnetospheric electron precipitation is also of high importance and its contribution, especially on the nightside, cannot be neglected.
Ågren K.
Cui Jiajia
Galand Marina
Garnier Paul
Modolo Ronan
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