Electron acoustic waves in double-kappa plasmas: Application to Saturn's magnetosphere

Using a kinetic theoretical approach, the characteristics of electron acoustic waves (EAWs) are investigated in plasmas whose electron velocity distributions are modeled by a combination of two kappa distributions, with distinct densities, temperatures, and κ values. The model is applied to Saturn's magnetosphere, where the electrons are well fitted by such a double‐kappa distribution. The results of this model suggest that EAWs will be weakly damped in regions where the hot and cool electron densities are approximately equal, the hot to cool temperature ratio is about 100, and the kappa indices are roughly constant, with κc ≃ 2 and κh ≃ 4, as found in Saturn's outer magnetosphere (R ∼ 13–18 RS, where RS is the radius of Saturn). In the inner magnetosphere (R < 9 RS), the model predicts strong damping of EAWs. In the intermediate region (9–13 RS), the EAWs couple to the electron plasma waves and are weakly damped. Key Points There is possible detection of EAWs in Saturn's outer magnetosphere These EAWs, however, are strongly damped for most of the frequency range