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Southwood et al. 2001
Southwood, D.J., Dougherty, M.K., Balogh, A., Cowley, S.W.H., Smith, E.J., Tsurutani, B.T., Russell, C.T., Siscoe, G.L., Erdos, G., Glassmeier, K., Gleim, F. and Neubauer, F.M. (2001). Magnetometer measurements from the Cassini Earth swing-by. Journal of Geophysical Research 106: doi: 10.1029/2001JA900110. issn: 0148-0227.

Magnetometer data recorded by the Cassini spacecraft during the spacecraft's Earth swing-by maneuver in August 1999 are discussed. The primary purpose of this paper is to show the instrument's performance in detection of magnetic phenomena in a planetary environment. Companion papers put the data in a broader geophysical context. The low noise and high time resolution of the instrument coupled with the unusual orbit did produce new information about old phenomena (e.g., a whistler-like signal inside the near-subsolar magnetopause, lower hybrid noise in the current sheets around a magnetosheath field null, and sharp changes in the ion cyclotron wave spectrum between the boundary layer and magnetosphere proper). The detection of irregular isolated 1--2 s duration small-amplitude field strength dips in the vicinity of the nightside plasma trough appear to constitute a new discovery, tentatively identified as being evidence of plasmasphere interchange instability during a lull in background convection. The absolute scalar element of the instrument worked to plan, operating within 4 RE of Earth in parallel with the fluxgate sensors. In all respects, instrument performance bodes well for the Saturn orbital phase of the mission. ¿ 2001 American Geophysical Union

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Keywords
Magnetospheric Physics, Magnetosheath, Magnetospheric Physics, Magnetosphere—outer, Magnetospheric Physics, Solar wind/magnetosphere interactions, Planetology, Solid Surface Planets, Planetology, Solid Surface Planets, Atmospheres—composition and chemistry
Journal
Journal of Geophysical Research
http://www.agu.org/journals/jb/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
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