Preliminary interpretation of Titan plasma interaction as observed by the Cassini Plasma Spectrometer: Comparisons with Voyager 1

Richard E. Hartle; Jr C. Sittler; F. M. Neubauer; R. E. Johnson; H. T. Smith; F. Crary; D. J. McComas; D. T. Young; A. J. Coates; D. Simpson; S. Bolton; D. Reisenfeld; K. Szego; J. J. Berthelier; A. Rymer; J. Vilppola; J. T. Steinberg; N. Andre

doi:10.1029/2005GL024817

Preliminary interpretation of Titan plasma interaction as observed by the Cassini Plasma Spectrometer: Comparisons with Voyager 1

Richard E. Hartle, Jr C. Sittler, F. M. Neubauer, R. E. Johnson, H. T. Smith, F. Crary, D. J. McComas, D. T. Young, A. J. Coates, D. Simpson, S. Bolton, D. Reisenfeld, K. Szego, J. J. Berthelier, A. Rymer, J. Vilppola, J. T. Steinberg, N. Andre

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Abstract

The Cassini Plasma Spectrometer (CAPS) instrument observed the plasma environment at Titan during the Cassini orbiter's TA encounter on October 26, 2004. Titan was in Saturn's magnetosphere during the Voyager 1 flyby and also during the TA encounter. CAPS measurements from this encounter are compared with measurements made by the Voyager 1 Plasma Science Instrument (PLS). The comparisons focus on the composition and nature of ambient and pickup ions. They lead to: A) the major ion components of Saturn's magnetosphere in the vicinity of Titan are H⁺, H₂⁺ and O⁺/CH₄⁺ ions; B) finite gyroradius effects are apparent in ambient O⁺ ions as the result of their absorption by Titan's extended atmosphere; C) the principal pickup ions are composed of H⁺, H₂⁺, N⁺/ CH₂⁺, CH₄⁺, and N₂⁺; D) the pickup ions are in narrow energy ranges; and E) there is clear evidence of the slowing down of background ions due to pickup ion mass loading.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	L08201
Journal	Geophysical Research Letters
Volume	33
Issue number	8
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1029/2005GL024817
State	Published - Apr 28 2006
Externally published	Yes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Geophysics
General Earth and Planetary Sciences

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10.1029/2005GL024817

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Hartle, R. E., Sittler, J. C., Neubauer, F. M., Johnson, R. E., Smith, H. T., Crary, F., McComas, D. J., Young, D. T., Coates, A. J., Simpson, D., Bolton, S., Reisenfeld, D., Szego, K., Berthelier, J. J., Rymer, A., Vilppola, J., Steinberg, J. T., & Andre, N. (2006). Preliminary interpretation of Titan plasma interaction as observed by the Cassini Plasma Spectrometer: Comparisons with Voyager 1. Geophysical Research Letters, 33(8), Article L08201. https://doi.org/10.1029/2005GL024817

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title = "Preliminary interpretation of Titan plasma interaction as observed by the Cassini Plasma Spectrometer: Comparisons with Voyager 1",

abstract = "The Cassini Plasma Spectrometer (CAPS) instrument observed the plasma environment at Titan during the Cassini orbiter's TA encounter on October 26, 2004. Titan was in Saturn's magnetosphere during the Voyager 1 flyby and also during the TA encounter. CAPS measurements from this encounter are compared with measurements made by the Voyager 1 Plasma Science Instrument (PLS). The comparisons focus on the composition and nature of ambient and pickup ions. They lead to: A) the major ion components of Saturn's magnetosphere in the vicinity of Titan are H+, H2+ and O+/CH4+ ions; B) finite gyroradius effects are apparent in ambient O+ ions as the result of their absorption by Titan's extended atmosphere; C) the principal pickup ions are composed of H+, H2+, N+/ CH2+, CH4+, and N2+; D) the pickup ions are in narrow energy ranges; and E) there is clear evidence of the slowing down of background ions due to pickup ion mass loading.",

author = "Hartle, {Richard E.} and Sittler, {Jr C.} and Neubauer, {F. M.} and Johnson, {R. E.} and Smith, {H. T.} and F. Crary and McComas, {D. J.} and Young, {D. T.} and Coates, {A. J.} and D. Simpson and S. Bolton and D. Reisenfeld and K. Szego and Berthelier, {J. J.} and A. Rymer and J. Vilppola and Steinberg, {J. T.} and N. Andre",

year = "2006",

month = apr,

day = "28",

doi = "10.1029/2005GL024817",

language = "English (US)",

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journal = "Geophysical Research Letters",

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Hartle, RE, Sittler, JC, Neubauer, FM, Johnson, RE, Smith, HT, Crary, F, McComas, DJ, Young, DT, Coates, AJ, Simpson, D, Bolton, S, Reisenfeld, D, Szego, K, Berthelier, JJ, Rymer, A, Vilppola, J, Steinberg, JT & Andre, N 2006, 'Preliminary interpretation of Titan plasma interaction as observed by the Cassini Plasma Spectrometer: Comparisons with Voyager 1', Geophysical Research Letters, vol. 33, no. 8, L08201. https://doi.org/10.1029/2005GL024817

TY - JOUR

T1 - Preliminary interpretation of Titan plasma interaction as observed by the Cassini Plasma Spectrometer

T2 - Comparisons with Voyager 1

AU - Hartle, Richard E.

AU - Sittler, Jr C.

AU - Neubauer, F. M.

AU - Johnson, R. E.

AU - Smith, H. T.

AU - Crary, F.

AU - McComas, D. J.

AU - Young, D. T.

AU - Coates, A. J.

AU - Simpson, D.

AU - Bolton, S.

AU - Reisenfeld, D.

AU - Szego, K.

AU - Berthelier, J. J.

AU - Rymer, A.

AU - Vilppola, J.

AU - Steinberg, J. T.

AU - Andre, N.

PY - 2006/4/28

Y1 - 2006/4/28

N2 - The Cassini Plasma Spectrometer (CAPS) instrument observed the plasma environment at Titan during the Cassini orbiter's TA encounter on October 26, 2004. Titan was in Saturn's magnetosphere during the Voyager 1 flyby and also during the TA encounter. CAPS measurements from this encounter are compared with measurements made by the Voyager 1 Plasma Science Instrument (PLS). The comparisons focus on the composition and nature of ambient and pickup ions. They lead to: A) the major ion components of Saturn's magnetosphere in the vicinity of Titan are H+, H2+ and O+/CH4+ ions; B) finite gyroradius effects are apparent in ambient O+ ions as the result of their absorption by Titan's extended atmosphere; C) the principal pickup ions are composed of H+, H2+, N+/ CH2+, CH4+, and N2+; D) the pickup ions are in narrow energy ranges; and E) there is clear evidence of the slowing down of background ions due to pickup ion mass loading.

AB - The Cassini Plasma Spectrometer (CAPS) instrument observed the plasma environment at Titan during the Cassini orbiter's TA encounter on October 26, 2004. Titan was in Saturn's magnetosphere during the Voyager 1 flyby and also during the TA encounter. CAPS measurements from this encounter are compared with measurements made by the Voyager 1 Plasma Science Instrument (PLS). The comparisons focus on the composition and nature of ambient and pickup ions. They lead to: A) the major ion components of Saturn's magnetosphere in the vicinity of Titan are H+, H2+ and O+/CH4+ ions; B) finite gyroradius effects are apparent in ambient O+ ions as the result of their absorption by Titan's extended atmosphere; C) the principal pickup ions are composed of H+, H2+, N+/ CH2+, CH4+, and N2+; D) the pickup ions are in narrow energy ranges; and E) there is clear evidence of the slowing down of background ions due to pickup ion mass loading.

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Preliminary interpretation of Titan plasma interaction as observed by the Cassini Plasma Spectrometer: Comparisons with Voyager 1

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