On the amount of heavy molecular ions in Titan's ionosphere

J. -E. Wahlund; M. Galand; I. Mueller-Wodarg; J. Cui; R. V. Yelle; F. J. Crary; K. Mandt; B. Magee; J. H. Waite; D. T. Young; A. J. Coates; P. Garnier; K. Agren; M. Andre; A. I. Eriksson; T. E. Cravens; V. Vuitton; D. A. Gurnett; W. S. Kurth

doi:10.1016/j.pss.2009.07.014

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On the amount of heavy molecular ions in Titan's ionosphere

Journal article

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On the amount of heavy molecular ions in Titan's ionosphere

J. -E. Wahlund, M. Galand, I. Mueller-Wodarg, J. Cui, R. V. Yelle, F. J. Crary, K. Mandt, B. Magee, J. H. Waite, D. T. Young, …

Planetary and space science, Vol.57(14-15), pp.1857-1865

12/01/2009

DOI: 10.1016/j.pss.2009.07.014

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Abstract

We present observational evidence that the ionosphere of Titan below an altitude of 1150 km is a significant source of heavy (> 100 amu) molecular organic species. This study is based on measurements by five instruments (RPWS/LP, RPWS/E, INMS, CAPS/ELS, CAPS/IBS) onboard the Cassini spacecraft during three flybys (T17, T18, T32) of Titan. The ionospheric peaks encountered at altitudes of 950-1300 km had densities in the range 900-3000 cm(-3). Below these peaks the number densities of heavy positively charged ions reached 100-2000 cm(-3) and approached 50-70% of the total ionospheric density with an increasing trend toward lowest measured altitudes. Simultaneously measured negatively charged ion densities were in the range 50-150 cm(-3). These results imply that similar to 10(5)similar to 10(6) heavy positively charged ions/m(3)/s are continuously recombining into heavy neutrals and supply the atmosphere of Titan. The ionosphere may in this way produce 0.1-1 Mt/yr of heavy organic compounds and is therefore a sizable source for aerosol formation. We also predict that Titan's ionosphere is dominated by heavy (> 100 amu) molecular ions below 950 km. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Astronomy & Astrophysics

Physical Sciences

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Title: Subtitle: On the amount of heavy molecular ions in Titan's ionosphere
Creators: J. -E. Wahlund - Swedish Institute of Space Physics
M. Galand - Imperial College London
I. Mueller-Wodarg - University of London
J. Cui - Imperial College London
R. V. Yelle - University of Arizona
F. J. Crary - Southwest Research Institute
K. Mandt - Southwest Research Institute
B. Magee - Southwest Research Institute
J. H. Waite - Southwest Research Institute
D. T. Young - Southwest Research Institute
A. J. Coates - University College London
P. Garnier - Swedish Institute of Space Physics
K. Agren - Swedish Institute of Space Physics
M. Andre - Swedish Institute of Space Physics
A. I. Eriksson - Swedish Institute of Space Physics
T. E. Cravens - University of Kansas
V. Vuitton - Institut de Planétologie et d'Astrophysique de Grenoble
D. A. Gurnett - University of Iowa
W. S. Kurth - University of Iowa
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Planetary and space science, Vol.57(14-15), pp.1857-1865
Publisher: Elsevier
DOI: 10.1016/j.pss.2009.07.014
ISSN: 0032-0633
eISSN: 1873-5088
Number of pages: 9
Grant note: International Space Science Institute (ISSI) PP/E001173/1 / STFC; UK Research & Innovation (UKRI); Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Swedish National Space Board (SNSB) PP/D00084X/1 / UK Space Agency EU/EUROPLANET; European Union (EU) PP/E001173/1 / Science and Technology Facilities Council; UK Research & Innovation (UKRI); Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
Language: English
Date published: 12/01/2009
Academic Unit: Physics and Astronomy
Record Identifier: 9984455541802771

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