Journal article
Nondetection of Radio Emissions From Titan Lightning by Cassini RPWS
Journal of geophysical research. Planets, Vol.125(9), e2020JE006496
09/2020
DOI: 10.1029/2020JE006496
Abstract
The Saturn‐orbiting Cassini spacecraft completed 126 close Titan flybys from 2004 until 2017. During almost all of them the Cassini Radio and Plasma Wave Science (RPWS) instrument was turned on to search for radio emissions attributed to Titan lightning. Here we report about their nondetection after close inspection of all Titan flybys throughout the Cassini mission. We also infer new and strong constraints on the permissible flash energy and flash rate of potential Titan lightning. The nondetection of lightning flashes by Cassini observations implies that any lightning on Titan must be either very weak, very rare, or does not exist at all, and the latter could be due to cloud electric fields being too low to initiate a discharge. This finding holds important implications for the prebiotic chemistry of Titan and also implies that lightning will not be a significant hazard to the upcoming Dragonfly mission.
Plain Language Summary
During its Saturn tour the Cassini spacecraft performed 126 close Titan flybys. The RPWS (Radio and Plasma Wave Science) instrument would have been able to detect radio emissions from potential lightning in Titan's atmosphere, similar to the easy detection of Earth lightning during the Cassini Earth flyby in August 1999. A careful inspection of RPWS data has revealed no radio signals that could be attributed to Titan lightning. The long observation times make it very likely that Titan lightning does not exist, is very weak, or is very rare.
Key Points
All Cassini Titan flybys were examined for radio emissions from Titan lightning
No radio emissions from Titan lightning were found in Cassini RPWS data
New upper limits for potential but unlikely Titan lightning activity were set
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Nondetection of Radio Emissions From Titan Lightning by Cassini RPWS
- Creators
- G. Fischer - Space Research InstituteW. M. Farrell - Goddard Space Flight CenterD. A. Gurnett - University of IowaW. S. Kurth - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of geophysical research. Planets, Vol.125(9), e2020JE006496
- DOI
- 10.1029/2020JE006496
- ISSN
- 2169-9097
- eISSN
- 2169-9100
- Number of pages
- 9
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 09/2020
- Academic Unit
- Physics and Astronomy
- Record Identifier
- 9984455278402771
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