Magnetic signatures of plasma‐depleted flux tubes in the Saturnian inner magnetosphere

N. André; A. M. Persoon; J. Goldstein; J. L. Burch; P. Louarn; G. R. Lewis; A. M. Rymer; A. J. Coates; W. S. Kurth; E. C. Sittler; M. F. Thomsen; F. J. Crary; M. K. Dougherty; D. A. Gurnett; D. T. Young

doi:10.1029/2007GL030374

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Magnetic signatures of plasma‐depleted flux tubes in the Saturnian inner magnetosphere

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Magnetic signatures of plasma‐depleted flux tubes in the Saturnian inner magnetosphere

N. André, A. M. Persoon, J. Goldstein, J. L. Burch, P. Louarn, G. R. Lewis, A. M. Rymer, A. J. Coates, W. S. Kurth, E. C. Sittler, …

Geophysical research letters, Vol.34(14), pp.L14108-n/a

07/21/2007

DOI: 10.1029/2007GL030374

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Abstract

Initial Cassini observations have revealed evidence for interchanging magnetic flux tubes in the inner Saturnian magnetosphere. Some of the reported flux tubes differ remarkably by their magnetic signatures, having a depressed or enhanced magnetic pressure relative to their surroundings. The ones with stronger fields have been interpreted previously as either outward moving mass‐loaded or inward moving plasma‐depleted flux tubes based on magnetometer observations only. We use detailed multi‐instrumental observations of small and large density depletions in the inner Saturnian magnetosphere from Cassini Rev. A orbit that enable us to discriminate amongst the two previous and opposite interpretations. Our analysis undoubtedly confirms the similar nature of both types of reported interchanging magnetic flux tubes, which are plasma‐depleted, whatever their magnetic signatures are. Their different magnetic signature is clearly an effect associated with latitude. These Saturnian plasma‐depleted flux tubes ultimately may play a similar role as the Jovian ones.

Cassini

plasma‐depleted flux tubes

transport

Details

Title: Subtitle: Magnetic signatures of plasma‐depleted flux tubes in the Saturnian inner magnetosphere
Creators: N. André - University College London
A. M. Persoon - University of Iowa
J. Goldstein - Southwest Research Institute
J. L. Burch - Southwest Research Institute
P. Louarn - Centre d'Etude Spatiales des Rayonnements
G. R. Lewis - University College London
A. M. Rymer - Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
A. J. Coates - University College London
W. S. Kurth - University of Iowa
E. C. Sittler - Goddard Space Flight Center
M. F. Thomsen - Los Alamos National Laboratory
F. J. Crary - Southwest Research Institute
M. K. Dougherty - Imperial College
D. A. Gurnett - University of Iowa
D. T. Young - Southwest Research Institute
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Geophysical research letters, Vol.34(14), pp.L14108-n/a
DOI: 10.1029/2007GL030374
ISSN: 0094-8276
eISSN: 1944-8007
Number of pages: 7
Language: English
Date published: 07/21/2007
Academic Unit: Physics and Astronomy
Record Identifier: 9984455657802771

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