Evidence of Electron Density Enhancements in the Post-Apoapsis Sector of Enceladus' Orbit

A. M. Persoon; W. S. Kurth; D. A. Gurnett; J. B. Groene; H. T. Smith; M. E. Perry; M. W. Morooka; S. Ye

doi:10.1029/2019JA027768

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Evidence of Electron Density Enhancements in the Post-Apoapsis Sector of Enceladus' Orbit

Journal article

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Evidence of Electron Density Enhancements in the Post-Apoapsis Sector of Enceladus' Orbit

A. M. Persoon, W. S. Kurth, D. A. Gurnett, J. B. Groene, H. T. Smith, M. E. Perry, M. W. Morooka and S. Ye

Journal of geophysical research. Space physics, Vol.125(6), e2019JA027768

06/2020

DOI: 10.1029/2019JA027768

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Abstract

Enceladus' plume is the dominant source of neutrals and plasma in Saturn's magnetosphere. The plasma results from the ionization of icy particles and water vapor, which are vented into Saturn's inner magnetosphere through fissures in Enceladus' southern polar region. These fissures are subjected to tidal stresses that can vary as Enceladus moves in a slightly eccentric orbit around Saturn. Plume activity and brightness have also been shown to vary with the moon's orbital position, reaching a maximum when Enceladus is farthest away from Saturn in its orbit (the Enceladus orbital apoapsis). In this paper we will show that temporal variations in the thermal electron density distribution correlate with the position of Enceladus in its orbit around Saturn, with the strongest density enhancements in the vicinity of Enceladus when the moon is in the post-apoapsis sector of its orbit.

Physical Sciences

Astronomy & Astrophysics

Science & Technology

Details

Title: Subtitle: Evidence of Electron Density Enhancements in the Post-Apoapsis Sector of Enceladus' Orbit
Creators: A. M. Persoon - University of Iowa
W. S. Kurth - University of Iowa
D. A. Gurnett - University of Iowa
J. B. Groene - University of Iowa
H. T. Smith - Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
M. E. Perry - Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
M. W. Morooka - Swedish Institute of Space Physics
S. Ye - University of Iowa
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of geophysical research. Space physics, Vol.125(6), e2019JA027768
DOI: 10.1029/2019JA027768
ISSN: 2169-9380
eISSN: 2169-9402
Publisher: Amer Geophysical Union
Number of pages: 10
Grant note: 1415150 / NASA through JPL
Language: English
Date published: 06/2020
Academic Unit: Physics and Astronomy
Record Identifier: 9984455557402771

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