Search Publications
Effect of plasma torus density variations on the morphology and brightness of the Io footprint
Crary, F.; Payan, A. P.; Rajendar, A. +1 more
We develop a 2-D-layered model of the Io plasma torus to study the apparent "shutoff" of the Io footprint in 2007, when it disappeared beneath a region of diffuse emissions, roughly coincident with a massive eruption of Tvashtar Paterae. First, we investigate the effects of Io's location in the plasma torus and validate our model results against H…
Analytical model of rotating two-cell convection at Saturn
Waite, J. H.; Burch, J. L.; Hill, T. W. +1 more
We use an analytical model of magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling to show that an asymmetric ring current (RC) pressure with an m=1 longitudinal dependence can initiate a rotating two-cell interchange potential. The model extends prior similar work by considering both cold plasma interchange and warm plasma pressure. This model predicts that within …
Separating drivers of Saturnian magnetopause motion
Dougherty, M. K.; Masters, A.; Sulaiman, A. H. +2 more
Surface waves on Saturn's magnetopause and oscillations of the magnetopause at a period associated with that of planetary rotation have previously been detected. How the amplitudes of these two key perturbations to the magnetopause position compare, however, is unclear. We construct a one-dimensional magnetopause model that considers both types of…
Outflow and plasma acceleration in Titan's induced magnetotail: Evidence of magnetic tension forces
Kurth, W. S.; Leblanc, F.; Edberg, N. J. T. +11 more
Cassini plasma wave and particle observations are combined with magnetometer measurements to study Titan's induced magnetic tail. In this study, we report and analyze the plasma acceleration in Titan's induced magnetotail observed in flybys T17, T19, and T40. Radio and Plasma Wave Science observations show regions of cold plasma with electron dens…
Collisionless resistivity in a bifurcated current sheet
Andriyas, T.; Spencer, E.
The collisionless resistivity due to charged particle chaos in spatially inhomogeneous magnetic fields is calculated for two frequently observed magnetotail current sheets, the X line, and a bifurcated current sheet (BCS) over varying strengths of cross-tail electric field. The calculation is done for two charged species, protons and O+…
Surface current balance and thermoelectric whistler wings at airless astrophysical bodies: Cassini at Rhea
Khurana, K. K.; Waite, J. H.; Teolis, B. D. +1 more
Sharp magnetic perturbations found by the Cassini spacecraft at the edge of the Rhea flux tube are consistent with field-aligned flux tube currents. The current system results from the difference of ion and electron gyroradii and the requirement to balance currents on the sharp Rhea surface. Differential-type hybrid codes that solve for ion veloci…
Local time dependences of oxygen ENA periodicities at Saturn
Mitchell, D. G.; Carbary, J. F.; Brandt, P. C.
The periodicities of energetic neutral atoms (90-170 keV oxygens) at Saturn are determined by applying Lomb-Scargle periodogram analyses to energetic neutral atom (ENA) fluxes observed in eight local time sectors of the equatorial plane between 5 and 15 RS (1 RS = 60,268 km). The analyses come from four long intervals (>18…
Association of consecutive Pi2-Ps6 band pulsations with earthward fast flows in the plasma sheet in response to IMF variations
Baumjohann, Wolfgang; Cheng, Ching-Chang; Mann, Ian R.
On 11 March 2009, the H component had four consecutive bay-like variations accompanied by positive and negative deflections in the D component across the Atlantic like those affected by the substorm current wedge formation. A train of pulsations with a frequency range 2-10 mHz (referred to as Pi2-Ps6 band), sensed by Time History of Events and Mac…
Saturn chorus latitudinal variations
Gurnett, D. A.; Hospodarsky, G. B.; Menietti, J. D. +1 more
The variation of propagation properties of whistler mode chorus as a function of latitude is not well known at Saturn but is important for the calculation of pitch angle diffusion and nonlinear growth of chorus. The Cassini spacecraft has spent a portion of its orbital time in high-inclination orbits, allowing traversal of the magnetic equator at …
Nonlinear interaction of 3D kinetic Alfvén wave and whistler wave in solar wind plasmas
Sharma, R. P.; Gaur, Nidhi
In the present work, the nonlinear evolution of 3D kinetic Alfvén wave (KAW) has been investigated in solar wind plasmas. By taking the adiabatic response of background density the nonlinearity arises because of ponderomotive effects. The dynamical equations governing the dynamics of 3D KAW and whistler are obtained. We have performed the numerica…