Ejection of nitrogen from Titan's atmosphere by magnetospheric ions and pick-up ions
Luhmann, J. G.; Johnson, R. E.; Leblanc, F.; Michael, M.; Shematovich, V. I.; Liu, M.
United States, France, Russia
Abstract
A 3-D Monte Carlo model is used to describe the ejection of N and N 2 from Titan due to the interaction of Saturn's magnetospheric N + ions and molecular pick-up ions with its N 2 atmosphere. Based on estimates of the ion flux into Titan's corona, atmospheric sputtering is an important source of both atomic and molecular nitrogen for the neutral torus and plasma in Saturn's outer magnetosphere, a region now being studied by the Cassini spacecraft.