The electron density of Saturn's magnetosphere

We have investigated statistically the electron density below 5 cm−3 in the magnetosphere of Saturn (7–80 RS, Saturn radii) using 44 orbits of the floating potential data from the RPWS Langmuir probe (LP) onboard Cassini. The density distribution shows a clear dependence on the distance from the Sat...

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Veröffentlicht in:Annales geophysicae (1988) 2009-01, Vol.27 (7), p.2971-2991
Hauptverfasser: MOROOKA, M. W, MODOLO, R, KHURANA, K. K, DOUGHERTY, M, WAHLUND, J.-E, ANDRE, M, ERIKSSON, A. I, PERSOON, A. M, GURNETT, D. A, KURTH, W. S, COATES, A. J, LEWIS, G. R
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Sprache:eng
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Zusammenfassung:We have investigated statistically the electron density below 5 cm−3 in the magnetosphere of Saturn (7–80 RS, Saturn radii) using 44 orbits of the floating potential data from the RPWS Langmuir probe (LP) onboard Cassini. The density distribution shows a clear dependence on the distance from the Saturnian rotation axis (√X2+Y2) as well as on the distance from the equatorial plane (|Z|), indicating a disc-like structure. From the characteristics of the density distribution, we have identified three regions: the extension of the plasma disc, the magnetodisc region, and the lobe regions. The plasma disc region is at L
ISSN:0992-7689
1432-0576
1432-0576
DOI:10.5194/angeo-27-2971-2009