The Electric Field outward of Saturn's Main Rings

C. Paranicas; E. Roussos; K. Dialynas; P. Kollmann; N. Krupp; M. Hedman; R. C. Allen; G. Hospodarsky

doi:10.3847/1538-4357/ac745e

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The Electric Field outward of Saturn's Main Rings

Journal article

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The Electric Field outward of Saturn's Main Rings

C. Paranicas, E. Roussos, K. Dialynas, P. Kollmann, N. Krupp, M. Hedman, R. C. Allen and G. Hospodarsky

The Astrophysical journal, Vol.934(1), p.11

07/01/2022

DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/ac745e

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Abstract

Cassini data are consistent with a global electric field in Saturn's magnetosphere that points approximately antisunward. The inner radial extent of this field was initially established using Saturn orbit insertion data but measurements of ultrarelativistic electrons from that pass cast some doubt on whether the electric field reaches all the way to the A ring. It was not until the so-called ring-grazing and proximal orbits near the end of the mission in 2017 that relevant data were again obtained on magnetic field lines that connect to the region just outward of the main rings. Here we report on the energetic charged particle data during those orbits, showing that electron observations at a wide range of energies are consistent with an electric field that influences charged particle drift paths near the outer edge of the A ring. We include a very detailed analysis of Cassini's ultrarelativistic electron measurements (channel E7 in the text) and argue they provide no information about the electric field. This result further strengthens the case of several studies that have used the presence of the electric field to explain signatures of acceleration in the data.

Astronomy & Astrophysics

Physical Sciences

Science & Technology

Details

Title: Subtitle: The Electric Field outward of Saturn's Main Rings
Creators: C. Paranicas - APL, 11100 Johns Hopkins Rd, Laurel, MD 20723 USA
E. Roussos - Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research
K. Dialynas - Academy of Athens
P. Kollmann - APL, 11100 Johns Hopkins Rd, Laurel, MD 20723 USA
N. Krupp - Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research
M. Hedman - University of Idaho
R. C. Allen - APL, 11100 Johns Hopkins Rd, Laurel, MD 20723 USA
G. Hospodarsky - University of Iowa
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: The Astrophysical journal, Vol.934(1), p.11
DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/ac745e
ISSN: 0004-637X
eISSN: 1538-4357
Publisher: IOP Publishing Ltd
Number of pages: 6
Grant note: 80NSSC19K0886; 80NSSC21K0534 / NASA; National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) 80NSSC19K0886; 80NSSC21K0534 / Johns Hopkins University
Language: English
Date published: 07/01/2022
Academic Unit: Physics and Astronomy
Record Identifier: 9984455261602771

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