Journal article
Intense Harmonic Emissions Observed in Saturn's Ionosphere
Geophysical research letters, Vol.44(24), pp.12,049-12,056
12/28/2017
DOI: 10.1002/2017GL076184
Abstract
The Cassini spacecraft’s first Grand Finale orbit was carried out in April 2017. This set of 22 orbitshad an inclination of 63° with a periapsis grazing Saturn’s ionosphere, thus providing unprecedentedcoverage and proximity to the planet. Cassini’s Radio and Plasma Wave Science instrument repeatedlydetected intense electrostatic waves and their harmonics near closest approach in the dayside equatorialtopside ionosphere. The fundamental modes were found to both scale and trend best with the H^{+} plasma orlower hybrid frequencies, depending on the plasma composition considered. The fine-structured harmonicsare unlike previous observations, which scale with cyclotron frequencies. We explore their generationmechanism and show strong evidence of their association with whistler mode waves, consistent with theory.The possibility of Cassini’s presence in the ionosphere influencing the resonance and harmonics is discussed.Given their link to the lower hybrid frequency, these emissions may offer clues to constraining Saturn’sionospheric properties.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Intense Harmonic Emissions Observed in Saturn's Ionosphere
- Creators
- Ali H. Sulaiman - University of IowaWilliam S. Kurth - University of IowaAnn M. Persoon - University of IowaJohn D. Menietti - University of IowaWilliam M. Farrell - Goddard Space Flight CenterShengyi Y. Ye - University of IowaGeorge B. Hospodarsky - University of IowaDon A. Gurnett - University of IowaLina Hadid - Swedish Institute of Space Physics
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Geophysical research letters, Vol.44(24), pp.12,049-12,056
- Publisher
- American Geophysical Union
- DOI
- 10.1002/2017GL076184
- ISSN
- 0094-8276
- eISSN
- 1944-8007
- Grant note
- DOI: 10.13039/100006196, name: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, award: 1415150; DOI: 10.13039/100000104, name: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, award: 1415150
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 12/28/2017
- Academic Unit
- Physics and Astronomy
- Record Identifier
- 9984455541402771
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