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Explaining plasma motion around Saturn

Date:
January 2, 2010
Source:
American Geophysical Union
Summary:
Understanding the motion and source of the plasma around Saturn is important for understanding the dynamics of the magnetosphere. Researchers present a theory that describes plasma transport in Saturn's magnetosphere, including processes that add new mass to the plasma and those that remove momentum from the plasma without changing plasma mass.
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Understanding the motion and source of the plasma around Saturn is important for understanding the dynamics of the magnetosphere. Pontius and Hill present a theory that describes plasma transport in Saturn's magnetosphere, including processes that add new mass to the plasma and those that remove momentum from the plasma without changing plasma mass.

Using observational data from the Cassini spacecraft on the angular velocity of plasma around Saturn along with chemistry models of Saturn's magnetosphere, the authors calculate the distribution of new mass entering the magnetosphere.

They confirm that most of the plasma comes from a neutral gas region near the orbit of Saturn's moon Enceladus and quantify the rate at which plasma mass is added to the magnetosphere from this region. The distribution and source of mass addition is important because it affects the rotation rate of the magnetosphere.

The work provides a new method of analysis that could be useful for future studies.

The research is published in Geophysical Research Letters. Authors include D. H. Pontius Jr.: Department of Physics, Birmingham-Southern College, Birmingham, Alabama, USA; and T. W. Hill: Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Houston, Texas, USA.


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Materials provided by American Geophysical Union. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Pontius et al. Plasma mass loading from the extended neutral gas torus of Enceladus as inferred from the observed plasma corotation lag. Geophysical Research Letters, 2009; 36 (23): L23103 DOI: 10.1029/2009GL041030

Cite This Page:

American Geophysical Union. "Explaining plasma motion around Saturn." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 2 January 2010. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091230184120.htm>.
American Geophysical Union. (2010, January 2). Explaining plasma motion around Saturn. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 28, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091230184120.htm
American Geophysical Union. "Explaining plasma motion around Saturn." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091230184120.htm (accessed March 28, 2024).

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