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AGU: Journal of Geophysical Research, Space Physics

 

Keywords

  • Saturn
  • magnetosphere
  • MHD waves and instabilities
  • magnetic fields
  • space plasmas

Index Terms

  • Magnetospheric Physics: Planetary magnetospheres
  • Planetary Sciences: Solar System Objects: Saturn
  • Magnetospheric Physics: MHD waves and instabilities
  • Planetary Sciences: Fluid Planets: Interactions with particles and fields
Abstract
Cited By (3)
 

Abstract

Analysis of waves in Saturn's dayside magnetosphere: Voyager 1 observations

R. P. Lepping

Laboratory for Extraterrestrial Physics, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA

E. C. Sittler Jr.

Laboratory for Extraterrestrial Physics, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA

W. H. Mish

Laboratory for Extraterrestrial Physics, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA

S. A. Curtis

Laboratory for Extraterrestrial Physics, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA

B. T. Tsurutani

Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California, USA

Magnetic field fluctuations were observed in the data of Voyager 1 on its inbound leg in Saturn's magnetosphere from about 19 to 8.4 Saturn radii, during the interval 7–17 hours before closest approach. These low-amplitude oscillations had the appearance of irregular micropulsations. The wave periods in the spacecraft frame varied between ≈1 and 20 min with a tendency to be inversely correlated with the field strength. An eigenfunction analysis yielding wave propagation direction as a function of frequency showed that at and near peak frequency two distinct types of waves were present, one propagating along field lines (within 30°) usually at the higher frequencies considered, (4–14) × l0−3 Hz, and the other propagating along inline equation (the azimuthal direction in a standard spherical coordinate system) at lower frequencies, (0.8–4) × l0−3 Hz. The power spectral density (in (nT)2/Hz) at the peaks tended to be inversely related to frequency over the full set of frequencies. An interpretation of these results is that Alfven waves are propagating along field lines at the higher frequencies with wavelengths between 1/4 and 1/2 RS. These occur in both the mantle and plasma sheet. The waves traveling along inline equation, which are observed to occur in the low-latitude plasma mantle, are apparently manifestations of rapidly corotating MHD waves with large compressional components and are probably due to the operation of the centrifugal flute instability at the plasma sheet-mantle boundary. For both types, wave absorption occurs with a high-frequency cutoff at or near the gyrofrequency of O+ (and/or N+). Our results establish the framework for MHD waves within Saturn's outer magnetosphere, and it is expected that the Cassini mission, for which orbit insertion occurred on 1 July 2004, will add considerably to that presented here.

Received 26 April 2004; accepted 25 January 2005; published 4 May 2005.

Citation: Lepping, R. P., E. C. Sittler Jr., W. H. Mish, S. A. Curtis, and B. T. Tsurutani (2005), Analysis of waves in Saturn's dayside magnetosphere: Voyager 1 observations, J. Geophys. Res., 110, A05201, doi:10.1029/2004JA010559.

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