Journal article
The structure of Titan's wake from plasma wave observations
Journal of geophysical research. Space physics, Vol.87(A3), pp.1395-1403
03/01/1982
DOI: 10.1029/JA087iA03p01395
Abstract
The electron density profile inferred from plasma wave emissions detected during the Voyager 1 flyby of Titan exhibits three distinct peaks with densities of about 40/cu cm, the first peak corresponding to the entry into the magnetic tail, the second corresponding to the neutral sheet crossing from the northern to the southern tail lobe, and the third corresponding to the outbound exit from the tail. Large depressions in the magnetic field strength are observed coincident with each of the density peaks, indicating that a dense plume of plasma is being carried downstream of Titan by the interaction with the rapidly rotating magnetosphere of Saturn. The 8600 K plasma temperature estimated suggests that the plasma originates from the ionosphere of Titan, probably forming a plasma plume with a theta or H cross section extending downstream from Titan.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- The structure of Titan's wake from plasma wave observations
- Creators
- D Gurnett - University of Iowa, Physics and AstronomyW Kurth - University of Iowa, Physics and AstronomyF Scarf - Defense Systems
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of geophysical research. Space physics, Vol.87(A3), pp.1395-1403
- DOI
- 10.1029/JA087iA03p01395
- ISSN
- 0148-0227
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 03/01/1982
- Academic Unit
- Physics and Astronomy
- Record Identifier
- 9984454340002771
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