Journal article
A plasmapause-like density boundary at high latitudes in Saturn's magnetosphere
Geophysical research letters, Vol.37(16), pp.L16806-n/a
08/2010
DOI: 10.1029/2010GL044466
Abstract
Here we report the discovery of a well-defined plasma density boundary at high latitudes in Saturn's magnetosphere. The boundary separates a region of relatively high density at L less than about 8 to 15 from a region with densities nearly three orders of magnitude lower at higher L values. Magnetic field measurements show that strong field-aligned currents, probably associated with the aurora, are located just inside the boundary. Analyses of the anisotropy of energetic electrons show that the magnetic field lines are usually closed inside the boundary and open outside the boundary, although exceptions sometimes occur. The location of the boundary is also modulated at the similar to 10.6 to 10.8 hr rotational period of the planet. Many of these characteristics are similar to those predicted by Brice and Ioannidis for the plasmapause at a strongly magnetized, rapidly rotating planet such as Saturn. Citation: Gurnett, D. A., et al. (2010), A plasmapause-like density boundary at high latitudes in Saturn's magnetosphere, Geophys. Res. Lett., 37, L16806, doi:10.1029/2010GL044466.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- A plasmapause-like density boundary at high latitudes in Saturn's magnetosphere
- Creators
- D. A. Gurnett - University of IowaA. M. Persoon - University of IowaA. J. Kopf - University of IowaW. S. Kurth - University of IowaM. W. Morooka - Swedish Institute of Space PhysicsJ. -E. Wahlund - Swedish Institute of Space PhysicsK. K. Khurana - Planetary Science InstituteM. K. Dougherty - Imperial College LondonD. G. Mitchell - Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics LaboratoryS. M. Krimigis - Johns Hopkins UniversityN. Krupp - Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Geophysical research letters, Vol.37(16), pp.L16806-n/a
- Publisher
- Amer Geophysical Union
- DOI
- 10.1029/2010GL044466
- ISSN
- 0094-8276
- eISSN
- 1944-8007
- Number of pages
- 5
- Grant note
- 1356500 / Jet Propulsion Laboratory; National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) NAS5- 97271 / NASA; National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) PP/E001076/1 / Science and Technology Facilities Council; UK Research & Innovation (UKRI); Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Swedish National Space Board (SNSB) 1236948 / JPL ST/H002383/1 / STFC; UK Research & Innovation (UKRI); Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 08/2010
- Academic Unit
- Physics and Astronomy
- Record Identifier
- 9984455263702771
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