EarthRef.org Reference Database (ERR)
Development and Maintenance by the EarthRef.org Database Team

Detailed Reference Information
Paranicas et al. 2004
Paranicas, C., Decker, R.B., Mauk, B.H., Krimigis, S.M., Armstrong, T.P. and Jurac, S. (2004). Energetic ion composition in Saturn's magnetosphere revisited. Geophysical Research Letters 31: doi: 10.1029/2003GL018899. issn: 0094-8276.

We present a new analysis of the composition of energetic charged particles in Saturn's inner magnetosphere. This analysis is motivated by a discovery made after the Voyager 1 and 2 Saturn encounters of penetrating electrons in some total ion measurement channels of the Low Energy Charged Particle detectors. From this new analysis, we predict that there is no significant increase in the ratio of heavy energetic ions to protons inward of the orbit of the satellite Dione, as previously thought. This implies that energetic ion sputtering of the icy rings and satellites produces much less water vapor than has been assumed based on past composition estimates. For protons between about 500 keV and a few MeV, we observe a decrease in measured flux inward of about L = 6 and suggest the cause of this decrease is not well understood.

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Keywords
Magnetospheric Physics, Energetic particles, trapped, Planetology, Solar System Objects, Saturn, Planetology, Fluid Planets, Tori and exospheres, Planetology, Fluid Planets, Magnetospheres, Planetology, Fluid Planets, Atmospheres—composition and chemistry
Journal
Geophysical Research Letters
http://www.agu.org/journals/gl/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
2000 Florida Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20009-1277
USA
1-202-462-6900
1-202-328-0566
service@agu.org
Click to clear formClick to return to previous pageClick to submit