Plasma convection in Saturn's outer magnetosphere determined from ions detected by the Cassini INCA experiment

Physics

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

12

Magnetospheric Physics: Planetary Magnetospheres (5443, 5737, 6033), Magnetospheric Physics: Plasma Convection (2463), Planetary Sciences: Solar System Objects: Saturn

Scientific paper

The Ion and Neutral Camera (INCA), one of three sensors comprising the Magnetospheric Imaging Instrument (MIMI) on the Cassini spacecraft, measures intensities of hydrogen and oxygen ions and neutral atoms in the Saturnian magnetosphere. The measured intensity spectrum and anisotropy of hot hydrogen and oxygen ions may be used to deduce the spectral parameters and the velocity of the ion population. The anisotropies are frequently convective in nature, allowing for the determination of a bulk velocity. Under the ``frozen in'' assumption, this is also the velocity of the cold plasma of magnetospheric ions. Initial analysis of selected measurements of nightside ion populations with strong anisotropies indicates nearly rigid corotation of magnetospheric plasma interior to Titan's orbit. Beyond this distance, these measurements infer that the plasma maintains at best a constant rotation velocity, falling farther behind the rigid corotation rate at increasing distance.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Plasma convection in Saturn's outer magnetosphere determined from ions detected by the Cassini INCA experiment 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 Plasma convection in Saturn's outer magnetosphere determined from ions detected by the Cassini INCA experiment, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Plasma convection in Saturn's outer magnetosphere determined from ions detected by the Cassini INCA experiment will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1321258

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.