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Saturn's magnetodisc current sheet
Russell, C. T.; Dougherty, M. K.; Khurana, K. K. +5 more
Pioneer 11 observations from the dawn flank of Saturn's magnetosphere provided evidence for a thin equatorial current sheet. Magnetometer data from the Cassini orbiter have also revealed the presence of this current sheet and shown it to be a consistent feature of the dawn flank. Arridge et al. (2007) recently investigated the stress balance in th…
Electron flat-top distributions around the magnetic reconnection region
RèMe, H.; Fazakerley, A. N.; Owen, C. J. +9 more
Cluster multisatellite observations provide snapshots of electron distributions around the magnetic neutral line. An isotropic flat-top-type electron distribution in phase space is frequently observed around the X line, together with large ion velocities and a Hall quadrupole-like magnetic field inside the hot and tenuous plasma sheet in the magne…
Oscillation of Saturn's southern auroral oval
Nichols, J. D.; Clarke, J. T.; Cowley, S. W. H. +5 more
Near-planetary-period oscillations in the Cassini plasma and magnetic field data have been observed throughout Saturn's magnetosphere despite the fact that Saturn's internal magnetic field is apparently highly axisymmetric. In addition, the period of the Saturn kilometric radiation has been shown to vary over time. In this paper we present results…
Occurrence of reconnection jets at the dayside magnetopause: Double Star observations
RèMe, H.; Cao, J. B.; Carr, C. M. +7 more
We present a statistical study on reconnection occurrence at the dayside magnetopause performed using the Double Star TC1 plasma and magnetic field data. We examined the magnetopause crossings that occurred during the first year of the mission in the 0600-1800 LT interval and we identified plasma flows, at the magnetopause or in the boundary layer…
Large-scale dynamics of Saturn's magnetopause: Observations by Cassini
Russell, C. T.; Dougherty, M. K.; Jackman, C. M. +4 more
The long-term statistical behavior of the large-scale structure of Saturn's magnetosphere has been investigated. Established statistical techniques for Jupiter have been applied to the kronian system, employing Cassini magnetometer data and a new empirical shape model of the magnetopause based on these data. The resulting distribution of standoff …
Cluster observations of an ion-scale current sheet in the magnetotail under the presence of a guide field
RèMe, H.; Fazakerley, A. N.; Klecker, B. +9 more
We report on Cluster observations of a thin current sheet interval under the presence of a strong ∣BY∣ during a fast earthward flow interval between 1655 UT and 1703 UT on 17 August 2003. The strong ∣BY∣ in the tail could be associated with a strong IMF ∣BY∣, but the large fluctuations in BY, not seen in…
Plasmoids in Saturn's magnetotail
Lewis, G. R.; Coates, A. J.; Russell, C. T. +10 more
Plasmoids in Saturn's magnetotail are identified by a reversal (northward turning) of the normally southward component of the magnetic field across the tail current sheet. Three large plasmoids have been identified by the Cassini magnetometer, one near 0300 local time at a planet-centered distance of 44 RS and two near midnight at 48-49…
Observations of aurorae by SPICAM ultraviolet spectrograph on board Mars Express: Simultaneous ASPERA-3 and MARSIS measurements
Lundin, R.; Futaana, Y.; Winningham, J. D. +12 more
We present a new set of observations of Martian aurorae obtained by Spectroscopy for the Investigation of the Characteristics of the Atmosphere of Mars (SPICAM) on board Mars Express (MEX). Using nadir viewing, several auroral events have been identified on the Martian nightside, all near regions of crustal magnetic fields. For most of these event…
Spectral morphology of the X-ray emission from Jupiter's aurorae
Branduardi-Raymont, G.; Galand, M.; Waite, J. H. +5 more
Simultaneous Chandra X-ray and Hubble Space Telescope FUV observations of Jupiter's aurorae carried out in February 2003 have been re-examined to investigate the spatial morphology of the X-ray events in different energy bands. The data clearly show that in the Northern auroral region (in the main auroral oval and the polar cap) events with energy…
Statistical analysis of injection/dispersion events in Saturn's inner magnetosphere
Chen, Y.; Hill, T. W.
In the inner magnetosphere of a rapidly rotating planet such as Jupiter and Saturn, radial transport of plasma mainly comprises hot, tenuous plasma moving inward and cold, denser plasma moving outward. A distinctive phenomenon resulting from the drift dispersion of injecting hot plasma provides direct evidence for this convective motion. Particle …