Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
1773512 | Icarus | 2012 | 4 Pages |
Abstract
As the saturnian magnetoplasma sweeps past Enceladus, it experiences both a decrease in electron content and sharp slowdown in the northern hemisphere region within ∼5 Enceladus Radii (Re). This slowdown is observed by Cassini in regions not obviously associated with the southern directed plume-originating ions. We suggest herein that the decrease in northern hemisphere electron content and plasma slowdown could both be related to the presence of fine dust grains that are being accelerated by the Lorentz force created within the saturnian magnetic field system.
Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering
Earth and Planetary Sciences
Space and Planetary Science
Authors
William M. Farrell, Jan-Erik Wahlund, Michiko Morooka, Donald A. Gurnett, William S. Kurth, Robert J. MacDowall,