Wave Activity Above the Ionosphere of Titan - Predictions for the Cassini Mission

Details Wave Activity Above the Ionosphere of Titan - Predictions for the Cassini Mission Wave Activity Above the Ionosphere of Titan - Predictions for the Cassini Mission

Dec 2004

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2004agufm.p53a1450d&link_type=abstract

American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2004, abstract #P53A-1450

Physics

2772 Plasma Waves And Instabilities, 2780 Solar Wind Interactions With Unmagnetized Bodies

Scientific paper

Beam driven wave generation mechanisms are investigated in linear approximation, which are viable in the flowside plasma mantle of Titan. The flowside plasma mantle is defined - by analogy with the dayside plasma mantle of the planet Venus and Mars - as being the interaction region between the "cold" ionospheric plasma and the "hot" streaming plasma of magnetospheric or solar wind origin, with both types of plasma being present in comparable densities. In order to match the various plasma and field parameters expected to be measured by Cassini during its numerous encounters with Titan, we have performed our model calculations in a broad parameter space encompassing the plasma characteristics determined by Voyager 1 in Titan's wake, and also making use of the results of available MHD model calculations concerning the plasma environment of Titan. Two types of beam-instability modes were found to be dominant: a fluid-like (non-resonant) modified two stream instability (MTSI) and the kinetic (beam resonant) ion-ion acoustic instability (IIAI). The two instability modes are characterized by distinct frequency ranges (an order or below the lower hybrid frequency for the MTSI, and a few times the lower hybrid frequency for the IIAI), and are found to be dominant in well separated spatial regions determined by the presence/absence of cold ionospheric electrons. Giving a global rather than a specific description of the instability types expected to be the most important growing modes within Titan's flowside mantle we make predictions concerning the wave characteristics and the spatial location of the dominant wave modes measurable by the plasma wave instrument onboard Cassini. In particular, the extension of the waves towards the flanks is investigated, with comparisons to the observations by Cassini during its first Titan encounter.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Wave Activity Above the Ionosphere of Titan - Predictions for the Cassini Mission 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 Wave Activity Above the Ionosphere of Titan - Predictions for the Cassini Mission, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Wave Activity Above the Ionosphere of Titan - Predictions for the Cassini Mission will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1454380