Search Publications
Electron circulation in Saturn's magnetosphere
Coates, A. J.; Mitchell, D. G.; Paranicas, C. +4 more
We present a model wherein electrons produced in Saturn's inner magnetosphere circulate through a combination of outward and inward motions driven by the centrifugal interchange instability and azimuthal motion through gradient and curvature drifts. Cool (<100 eV) electrons produced inside L ∼ 12 move slowly outward. To balance outflowing flux,…
Plasmoids in reconnecting current sheets: Solar and terrestrial contexts compared
Farrugia, C. J.; Cranmer, S. R.; Lin, J.
Magnetic reconnection plays a crucial role in violent energy conversion occurring in the environments of high electrical conductivity, such as the solar atmosphere, magnetosphere, and fusion devices. We focus on the morphological features of the process in two different environments, the solar atmosphere and the geomagnetic tail. In addition to in…
Plasma environment of Mars as observed by simultaneous MEX-ASPERA-3 and MEX-MARSIS observations
Barabash, S.; Lundin, R.; Winningham, J. D. +11 more
Simultaneous in situ measurements carried out by the Analyzer of Space Plasma and Energetic Atoms (ASPERA-3) and Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionospheric Sounding (MARSIS) instruments on board the Mars Express (MEX) spacecraft for the first time provide us with the local parameters of cold ionospheric and hot solar wind plasma components…
A multi-instrument view of tail reconnection at Saturn
Coates, A. J.; Krupp, N.; Russell, C. T. +8 more
Three instances of tail reconnection events at Saturn involving the ejection of plasmoids downtail have been reported by Jackman et al. (2007) using data from Cassini's magnetometer (MAG). Here we show two newly discovered events, as identified in the MAG data by northward/southward turnings and intensifications of the field. We discuss these even…
Analysis of plasma waves observed within local plasma injections seen in Saturn's magnetosphere
Gurnett, D. A.; Persoon, A. M.; Coates, A. J. +5 more
Plasma injections or density depletion regions have been reported to be a prolific feature of Saturn's inner magnetosphere. They are characterized by flux tubes of warm, tenuous plasma in a cooler, locally produced plasma background. The injected plasma undergoes dispersion in energy due to gradient and curvature drifts as the flux tube transports…
An empirical model of Saturn's bow shock: Cassini observations of shock location and shape
Coates, A. J.; Dougherty, M. K.; Hospodarsky, G. B. +4 more
We present a new empirical model of Saturn's bow shock that utilizes observations from the Cassini spacecraft. Shock crossings are identified in magnetic field and plasma observations made by Cassini between June 2004 and August 2005. The Cassini crossings are then combined with the crossings made during the Saturn flybys of Pioneer 11, Voyager 1,…
High-latitude Earth's magnetopause outside the cusp: Cluster observations
RèMe, H.; Korth, A.; Büchner, J. +4 more
We investigated the ambient plasma and magnetic field conditions at high latitudes, as well as the macroparameters of the magnetopause. For this purpose we used Cluster spacecraft plasma and magnetic field data when all the interspacecraft distances were less than 300 km. We analyzed 154 magnetosheath-magnetosphere transitions which allow to disti…
A global hybrid model for Titan's interaction with the Kronian plasma: Application to the Cassini Ta flyby
Modolo, R.; Chanteur, G. M.
The interaction between the corotating magnetospheric plasma of Saturn and the exosphere of Titan is investigated by means of a three-dimensional and multispecies hybrid simulation model coupling charged and neutral species via three ionizing mechanisms: the absorption of extreme ultraviolet solar photons, the impacts of magnetospheric electrons, …
Solar wind excitation of Pc5 fluctuations in the magnetosphere and on the ground
Kessel, R. L.
The primary purpose of this paper is to show the importance of solar wind excitation as a source of magnetospheric and ground Pc5 fluctuations. In particular, we show that pressure fluctuations, a nearly ubiquitous feature of the solar wind, drive magnetospheric compressional Pc5, whose amplitude and power increase in direct proportion to the ampl…
Flattened current sheet and its evolution in substorms
Malova, H. V.; Escoubet, C. P.; Lucek, E. +10 more
In this research, the properties of a tail current sheet, which has a flattened geometry, and its evolution during substorm activity have been investigated. The geometrical configuration of the magnetic field and the spatial distribution of the current density in a flattened current sheet have been revealed with certainty for the first time. It is…