Journal article
The rotation of the plasmapause‐like boundary at high latitudes in Saturn's magnetosphere and its relation to the eccentric rotation of the northern and southern auroral ovals
Geophysical research letters, Vol.38(21), pp.L21203-n/a
11/2011
DOI: 10.1029/2011GL049547
Abstract
Here we present a study of the rotation of the plasmapause‐like density boundary discovered by the Cassini spacecraft at high latitudes in the Saturnian magnetosphere, and compare the results with previously published studies of high‐latitude magnetic field perturbations and the eccentric rotation of the auroral ovals. Near the planet the density boundary is located at dipole L values ranging from about 8 to 15, and separates a region of very low densities at high latitudes from a region of higher densities at lower latitudes. We show that the density boundary rotates at different rates in the northern and southern hemispheres, and that the periods are the same as the modulation periods of Saturn kilometric radiation in those hemispheres. We also show that the phase of rotation in a given hemisphere is closely correlated with the phase of the high‐latitude magnetic field perturbations observed by Cassini in that hemisphere, and also with the phase of the eccentric rotation of the auroral oval observed by the Hubble Space Telescope.
Key Points
Plasma over Saturn's two polar regions rotate at different rates
The rotation rates match the modulation rates of Saturn kilometric radiation
The rotation rates match the eccentric rotation rates of the auroral ovals
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- The rotation of the plasmapause‐like boundary at high latitudes in Saturn's magnetosphere and its relation to the eccentric rotation of the northern and southern auroral ovals
- Creators
- D. A. Gurnett - University of IowaA. M. Persoon - University of IowaJ. B. Groene - University of IowaW. S. Kurth - University of IowaM. Morooka - Swedish Institute of Space PhysicsJ.‐E. Wahlund - Swedish Institute of Space PhysicsJ. D. Nichols - University of Leicester
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Geophysical research letters, Vol.38(21), pp.L21203-n/a
- DOI
- 10.1029/2011GL049547
- ISSN
- 0094-8276
- eISSN
- 1944-8007
- Number of pages
- 5
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 11/2011
- Academic Unit
- Physics and Astronomy
- Record Identifier
- 9984455556002771
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