Journal article
Polarization measurements of Saturn Electrostatic Discharges with Cassini/RPWS below a frequency of 2 MHz
Journal of geophysical research. Space physics, Vol.112(A12), pp.12308-n/a
12/2007
DOI: 10.1029/2007JA012592
Abstract
Early in 2006 the RPWS (Radio and Plasma Wave Science) instrument and the ISS (Imaging Science Subsystem) onboard the Cassini spacecraft detected a lightning storm on Saturn that lasted for about one month. The RPWS measured the so-called SEDs (Saturn Electrostatic Discharges), which are high frequency radio signals produced by lightning discharges. The ISS imaged a remarkable cloud system associated with these SEDs at a latitude of 35° South. Below the frequency of 1825 kHz the RPWS was in a mode capable of measuring the polarization of the SEDs. A surprising result was gained; SEDs appeared to be highly polarized (80%) and were exclusively right-handed polarized with a high degree of circular polarization. We will present an explanation for this diagnosis involving magneto-ionic modes and their differential absorption in the magnetoplasma of Saturn's ionosphere.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Polarization measurements of Saturn Electrostatic Discharges with Cassini/RPWS below a frequency of 2 MHz
- Creators
- Georg Fischer - University of IowaDonald A. Gurnett - University of IowaAlain Lecacheux - Observatoire de ParisWolfgang Macher - Space Research InstituteWilliam S. Kurth - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of geophysical research. Space physics, Vol.112(A12), pp.12308-n/a
- DOI
- 10.1029/2007JA012592
- ISSN
- 2169-9380
- eISSN
- 2169-9402
- Publisher
- American Geophysical Union/Wiley
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 12/2007
- Academic Unit
- Physics and Astronomy
- Record Identifier
- 9984455267902771
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