Tokar RL, Johnson RE, Hill TW, Pontius DH, Kurth WS, Crary FJ, Young DT, Thomsen MF, Reisenfeld DB, Coates AJ, Lewis GR, Sittler EC, Gurnett DA. The Interaction of the Atmosphere of Enceladus with Saturn's Plasma.
Science 2006;
311:1409-12. [PMID:
16527967 DOI:
10.1126/science.1121061]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 164] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
During the 14 July 2005 encounter of Cassini with Enceladus, the Cassini Plasma Spectrometer measured strong deflections in the corotating ion flow, commencing at least 27 Enceladus radii (27 x 252.1 kilometers) from Enceladus. The Cassini Radio and Plasma Wave Science instrument inferred little plasma density increase near Enceladus. These data are consistent with ion formation via charge exchange and pickup by Saturn's magnetic field. The charge exchange occurs between neutrals in the Enceladus atmosphere and corotating ions in Saturn's inner magnetosphere. Pickup ions are observed near Enceladus, and a total mass loading rate of about 100 kilograms per second (3 x 10(27) H(2)O molecules per second) is inferred.
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