Extreme densities in Titan's ionosphere during the T85 magnetosheath encounter
We present Cassini Langmuir probe measurements of the highest electron number densities ever reported from the ionosphere of Titan. The measured density reached 4310 cm-3 during the T85 Titan flyby. This is at least 500 cm-3 higher than ever observed before and at least 50% above the average density...
Guardado en:
| Publicado: |
2013
|
|---|---|
| Materias: | |
| Acceso en línea: | https://bibliotecadigital.exactas.uba.ar/collection/paper/document/paper_00948276_v40_n12_p2879_Edberg http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_00948276_v40_n12_p2879_Edberg |
| Aporte de: |
| id |
paper:paper_00948276_v40_n12_p2879_Edberg |
|---|---|
| record_format |
dspace |
| spelling |
paper:paper_00948276_v40_n12_p2879_Edberg2023-06-08T15:09:35Z Extreme densities in Titan's ionosphere during the T85 magnetosheath encounter Cassini ionization ionosphere magnetosheath Titan Cassini Coronal mass ejection Electron number densities Ionospheric electron densities Langmuir probe measurements Magnetosheaths Solar zenith angle Titan Impact ionization Ionization Ionospheric measurement Solar wind Ionosphere electron density ionization ionosphere magnetopause magnetosphere planetary atmosphere probe Saturn spacecraft Titan zenith angle We present Cassini Langmuir probe measurements of the highest electron number densities ever reported from the ionosphere of Titan. The measured density reached 4310 cm-3 during the T85 Titan flyby. This is at least 500 cm-3 higher than ever observed before and at least 50% above the average density for similar solar zenith angles. The peak of the ionospheric density is not reached on this flyby, making the maximum measured density a lower limit. During this flyby, we also report that an impacting coronal mass ejection (CME) leaves Titan in the magnetosheath of Saturn, where it is exposed to shocked solar wind plasma for at least 2 h 45 min. We suggest that the solar wind plasma in the magnetosheath during the CME conditions significantly modifies Titan's ionosphere by an addition of particle impact ionization by precipitating protons. Key Points Titan is located in the magnetosheath of Saturn during the T85 flyby The highest ever ionospheric electron densities at Titan are found during T85 The magnetosheath encounter and the extreme densities are due to a CME impact ©2013. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved. 2013 https://bibliotecadigital.exactas.uba.ar/collection/paper/document/paper_00948276_v40_n12_p2879_Edberg http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_00948276_v40_n12_p2879_Edberg |
| institution |
Universidad de Buenos Aires |
| institution_str |
I-28 |
| repository_str |
R-134 |
| collection |
Biblioteca Digital - Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (UBA) |
| topic |
Cassini ionization ionosphere magnetosheath Titan Cassini Coronal mass ejection Electron number densities Ionospheric electron densities Langmuir probe measurements Magnetosheaths Solar zenith angle Titan Impact ionization Ionization Ionospheric measurement Solar wind Ionosphere electron density ionization ionosphere magnetopause magnetosphere planetary atmosphere probe Saturn spacecraft Titan zenith angle |
| spellingShingle |
Cassini ionization ionosphere magnetosheath Titan Cassini Coronal mass ejection Electron number densities Ionospheric electron densities Langmuir probe measurements Magnetosheaths Solar zenith angle Titan Impact ionization Ionization Ionospheric measurement Solar wind Ionosphere electron density ionization ionosphere magnetopause magnetosphere planetary atmosphere probe Saturn spacecraft Titan zenith angle Extreme densities in Titan's ionosphere during the T85 magnetosheath encounter |
| topic_facet |
Cassini ionization ionosphere magnetosheath Titan Cassini Coronal mass ejection Electron number densities Ionospheric electron densities Langmuir probe measurements Magnetosheaths Solar zenith angle Titan Impact ionization Ionization Ionospheric measurement Solar wind Ionosphere electron density ionization ionosphere magnetopause magnetosphere planetary atmosphere probe Saturn spacecraft Titan zenith angle |
| description |
We present Cassini Langmuir probe measurements of the highest electron number densities ever reported from the ionosphere of Titan. The measured density reached 4310 cm-3 during the T85 Titan flyby. This is at least 500 cm-3 higher than ever observed before and at least 50% above the average density for similar solar zenith angles. The peak of the ionospheric density is not reached on this flyby, making the maximum measured density a lower limit. During this flyby, we also report that an impacting coronal mass ejection (CME) leaves Titan in the magnetosheath of Saturn, where it is exposed to shocked solar wind plasma for at least 2 h 45 min. We suggest that the solar wind plasma in the magnetosheath during the CME conditions significantly modifies Titan's ionosphere by an addition of particle impact ionization by precipitating protons. Key Points Titan is located in the magnetosheath of Saturn during the T85 flyby The highest ever ionospheric electron densities at Titan are found during T85 The magnetosheath encounter and the extreme densities are due to a CME impact ©2013. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved. |
| title |
Extreme densities in Titan's ionosphere during the T85 magnetosheath encounter |
| title_short |
Extreme densities in Titan's ionosphere during the T85 magnetosheath encounter |
| title_full |
Extreme densities in Titan's ionosphere during the T85 magnetosheath encounter |
| title_fullStr |
Extreme densities in Titan's ionosphere during the T85 magnetosheath encounter |
| title_full_unstemmed |
Extreme densities in Titan's ionosphere during the T85 magnetosheath encounter |
| title_sort |
extreme densities in titan's ionosphere during the t85 magnetosheath encounter |
| publishDate |
2013 |
| url |
https://bibliotecadigital.exactas.uba.ar/collection/paper/document/paper_00948276_v40_n12_p2879_Edberg http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_00948276_v40_n12_p2879_Edberg |
| _version_ |
1768542544914808832 |