Search Publications
Electron conductivity and density profiles derived from the mutual impedance probe measurements performed during the descent of Huygens through the atmosphere of Titan
Berthelier, J. J.; Rodrigo, R.; López-Moreno, J. J. +15 more
During the descent of the Huygens probe through the atmosphere of Titan, on January 14th, 2005, the permittivity, waves and altimetry (PWA) subsystem, a component of the Huygens atmospheric structure instrument (HASI), detected an ionized layer at altitudes around 63 km with two different instruments, the relaxation probe (RP) and the mutual imped…
Physical properties of cometary and interplanetary dust
Lasue, J.; Okada, Y.; Mukai, T. +1 more
In the absence of numerous in situ studies, physical properties of cosmic dust may be derived from observations of their light scattering and thermal properties, through numerical simulations making use of realistic assumptions. Estimations about cometary and interplanetary dust composition, structure, size, as well as about their light scattering…
Solar wind Cluster observations: Turbulent spectrum and role of Hall effect
Alexandrova, O.; Carbone, V.; Veltri, P. +1 more
Turbulent spectrum of magnetic fluctuations in the solar wind nearly follows Kolmogorov's law ∼f below the ion cyclotron frequency fci. Above this frequency, the observed steeper power law is believed to be a 'dissipative range' of the solar wind turbulence. In this paper we analyze magnetic field fluctuations measured onboard Cluster, …
Water vapor mapping on Mars using OMEGA/Mars Express
Bibring, J. -P.; Gondet, B.; Langevin, Y. +8 more
A systematic mapping of water vapor on Mars has been achieved using the imaging spectrometer OMEGA aboard the Mars Express spacecraft, using the depth of the 2.6 µm ( ν1, ν3) band of H 2O. We report results obtained during two periods: (1) Ls=330-40° (January-June 2004), before and after the equinox, and (2) …
South Pole of Mars: Nature and composition of the icy terrains from Mars Express OMEGA observations
Bibring, J. -P.; Gondet, B.; Langevin, Y. +6 more
Monitoring the exchange of CO 2, H 2O and dust between the atmosphere, regolith, seasonal deposits and the permanent polar caps of Mars is required to study the climate of the planet and its evolution. The imaging spectrometer Observatoire pour la Minéralogie, l'Eau, les Glaces et l'Activité (OMEGA) of Mars Express contribute…
Cluster observations of Pc 1 2 waves and associated ion distributions during the October and November 2003 magnetic storms
Glassmeier, K. -H.; Rème, H.; Keiling, A. +7 more
Unusual wave activity in the Pc 1-2 frequency band (0.1-5 Hz) was observed by the Cluster spacecraft in association with the two large geomagnetic storms of late 2003. During the onset of the Hallowe'en storm on October 29, 2003, intense broadband activity between ∼0.1 and 0.6 Hz appeared at all 4 spacecraft on both sides of the magnetic equator a…
A new numerical model for the simulation of ELF wave propagation and the computation of eigenmodes in the atmosphere of Titan: Did Huygens observe any Schumann resonance?
Rodrigo, R.; López-Moreno, J. J.; Fulchignoni, M. +18 more
The propagation of extremely low frequency (ELF) electromagnetic waves in the Earth's ionospheric cavity and the associated resonance phenomena have been extensively studied, in relation with lightning activity. We perform a similar investigation for Titan, the largest moon of Saturn. There are important differences between Earth and Titan, as far…
Latest results on Jovian disk X-rays from XMM-Newton
Branduardi-Raymont, G.; Soria, R.; Waite, J. H. +6 more
We present the results of a spectral study of the soft X-ray emission (0.2-2.5 keV) from low-latitude ('disk') regions of Jupiter. The data were obtained during two observing campaigns with XMM-Newton in April and November 2003. While the level of the emission remained approximately the same between April and the first half of the November observa…
Compressible turbulence in Hall Magnetohydrodynamics
Carbone, V.; Veltri, P.; Stasiewicz, K. +2 more
By direct numerical simulations we investigate the nonlinear dynamics of a compressible Hall Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) plasma. At small scales, where the Hall effect dominates, we found an increase of the compressibility of the system and the breakdown of the strong link between velocity and magnetic fields, typical of usual MHD. Moreover, we find…
The D-CIXS X-ray spectrometer on the SMART-1 mission to the Moon—First results
Barabash, S.; Lundin, R.; Grande, M. +28 more
The SMART-1 mission has recently arrived at the Moon. Its payload includes D-CIXS, a compact X-ray spectrometer. SMART-1 is a technology evaluation mission, and D-CIXS is the first of a new generation of planetary X-ray spectrometers. Novel technologies enable new capabilities for measuring the fluorescent yield of a planetary surface or atmospher…