NANOGRAIN DENSITY OUTSIDE SATURN'S A RING

ABSTRACT The observed disparity between the radial dependence of the ion and electron densities measured by the Cassini plasma (CAPS) and radio (RPWS) science instruments are used to show that the region between the outer edge of Saturn's main rings and its tenuous G ring is permeated with smal...

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Published inAstrophysical journal. Letters Vol. 834; no. 1; p. L6
Main Authors Johnson, Robert E., Tseng, Wei-Ling, Elrod, M. K., Persoon, A. M.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States The American Astronomical Society 01.01.2017
Subjects
ASTROPHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY
Cassini mission
DENSITY
ELECTRON DENSITY
GRAIN DENSITY
Grains
Magnetospheres
Nanostructure
NANOSTRUCTURES
ORBITS
planets and satellites: individual (Saturn)
planets and satellites: rings
PLASMA
RINGS
SATELLITES
SATURN PLANET
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Summary:ABSTRACT The observed disparity between the radial dependence of the ion and electron densities measured by the Cassini plasma (CAPS) and radio (RPWS) science instruments are used to show that the region between the outer edge of Saturn's main rings and its tenuous G ring is permeated with small charged grains (nanograins). These grains emanate from the edge of the A ring and from the tenuous F and G rings. This is a region of Saturn's magnetosphere that is relatively unexplored, but will be a focus of Cassini's F ring orbits prior to the end of mission in 2017 September. Confirmation of the grain densities predicted here will enhance our ability to describe the formation and destruction of material in this important region of Saturn's magnetosphere.
Bibliography:LET34405
ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-2
content type line 23
ISSN:2041-8205
2041-8213
DOI:10.3847/2041-8213/834/1/L6