Extreme densities in Titan's ionosphere during the T85 magnetosheath encounter

T. Edberg, N. J. and Andrews, D. J. and Shebanits, O. and Ågren, K. and Wahlund, J.-e. and Opgenoorth, H. J. and Roussos, E. and Garnier, P. and Cravens, T. E. and Badman, S. V. and Modolo, R. and Bertucci, C. and Dougherty, M. K. (2013) Extreme densities in Titan's ionosphere during the T85 magnetosheath encounter. Geophysical Research Letters, 40 (12). pp. 2879-2883. ISSN 0094-8276

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Abstract

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.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Geophysical Research Letters
Additional Information:
©2013. American Geophysical Union.
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1900
Subjects:
?? TITANCASSINIIONOSPHEREMAGNETOSHEATHIONIZATIONGEOPHYSICSEARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCES(ALL) ??
ID Code:
67070
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
09 Oct 2013 10:32
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
19 Sep 2023 01:10