A plasmapause-like density boundary at high latitudes in Saturn's magnetosphere

D. A. Gurnett; A. M. Persoon; A. J. Kopf; W. S. Kurth; M. W. Morooka; J. -E. Wahlund; K. K. Khurana; M. K. Dougherty; D. G. Mitchell; S. M. Krimigis; N. Krupp

doi:10.1029/2010GL044466

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A plasmapause-like density boundary at high latitudes in Saturn's magnetosphere

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A plasmapause-like density boundary at high latitudes in Saturn's magnetosphere

D. A. Gurnett, A. M. Persoon, A. J. Kopf, W. S. Kurth, M. W. Morooka, J. -E. Wahlund, K. K. Khurana, M. K. Dougherty, D. G. Mitchell, S. M. Krimigis, …

Geophysical research letters, Vol.37(16), L16806

08/2010

DOI: 10.1029/2010GL044466

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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.

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Physical Sciences

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Title: Subtitle: A plasmapause-like density boundary at high latitudes in Saturn's magnetosphere
Creators: D. A. Gurnett - University of Iowa
A. M. Persoon - University of Iowa
A. J. Kopf - University of Iowa
W. S. Kurth - University of Iowa
M. W. Morooka - Swedish Institute of Space Physics
J. -E. Wahlund - Swedish Institute of Space Physics
K. K. Khurana - University of California, Los Angeles
M. K. Dougherty - Imperial College London
D. G. Mitchell - Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
S. M. Krimigis - Johns Hopkins University
N. Krupp - Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Geophysical research letters, Vol.37(16), L16806
DOI: 10.1029/2010GL044466
ISSN: 0094-8276
eISSN: 1944-8007
Publisher: Amer Geophysical Union
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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