Acceleration of Electrons by Whistler-Mode Hiss Waves at Saturn

E. E. Woodfield; S. A. Glauert; J. D. Menietti; R. B. Horne; A. J. Kavanagh; Y. Y. Shprits

doi:10.1029/2021GL096213

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Acceleration of Electrons by Whistler-Mode Hiss Waves at Saturn

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Acceleration of Electrons by Whistler-Mode Hiss Waves at Saturn

E. E. Woodfield, S. A. Glauert, J. D. Menietti, R. B. Horne, A. J. Kavanagh and Y. Y. Shprits

Geophysical research letters, Vol.49(3), pp.e2021GL096213-n/a

02/16/2022

DOI: 10.1029/2021GL096213

PMCID: PMC9286411

PMID: 35864852

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Abstract

Plasmaspheric hiss waves at the Earth are well known for causing losses of electrons from the radiation belts through wave particle interactions. At Saturn, however, we show that the different plasma density environment leads to acceleration of the electrons rather than loss. The ratio of plasma frequency to electron gyrofrequency frequently falls below one creating conditions for hiss to accelerate electrons. The location of hiss at high latitudes (>25 degrees) coincides very well with this region of very low density. The interaction between electrons and hiss only occurs at these higher latitudes, therefore the acceleration is limited to mid to low pitch angles leading to butterfly pitch angle distributions. The hiss is typically an order of magnitude stronger than chorus at Saturn and the resulting acceleration is rapid, approaching steady state in one day at 0.4 MeV at L = 7 and the effect is stronger with increasing L-shell.

Geology

Geosciences, Multidisciplinary

Physical Sciences

Science & Technology

Details

Title: Subtitle: Acceleration of Electrons by Whistler-Mode Hiss Waves at Saturn
Creators: E. E. Woodfield - British Antarctic Survey
S. A. Glauert - British Antarctic Survey
J. D. Menietti - University of Iowa
R. B. Horne - British Antarctic Survey
A. J. Kavanagh - British Antarctic Survey
Y. Y. Shprits - Helmholtz Centre Potsdam - GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Geophysical research letters, Vol.49(3), pp.e2021GL096213-n/a
Publisher: Amer Geophysical Union
DOI: 10.1029/2021GL096213
PMID: 35864852
PMCID: PMC9286411
ISSN: 0094-8276
eISSN: 1944-8007
Number of pages: 10
Grant note: ST/S000496/1 / STFC; UK Research & Innovation (UKRI); Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC) 903205; NNX16AI47G / NASA; National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) NE/R016445/1; NE/R016038/1 / NERC; UK Research & Innovation (UKRI); Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) 1415150; NNX11AM36G; NNX16AI47G / NASA; National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) 637302 / EC grant H2020
Language: English
Date published: 02/16/2022
Academic Unit: Physics and Astronomy
Record Identifier: 9984627200102771

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