Arridge, CS; Andre, N; Achilleos, N; Khurana, KK; Bertucci, CL; Gilbert, LK; Lewis, GR; ... Dougherty, MK; + view all Arridge, CS; Andre, N; Achilleos, N; Khurana, KK; Bertucci, CL; Gilbert, LK; Lewis, GR; Coates, AJ; Dougherty, MK; - view fewer (2008) Thermal electron periodicities at 20R(S) in Saturn's magnetosphere. Geophysical Research Letters , 35 (15) , Article L15107. 10.1029/2008GL034132.

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Abstract

Cassini fields and particles observations show clear evidence of periodic phenomena in Saturn's magnetosphere. Periodicities have been observed in kilometric radio emissions, total electron density (in the inner magnetosphere), magnetic fields, and energetic particles (in the outer magnetosphere). In this letter the first analysis of periodicities in thermal electron densities in Saturn's outer magnetosphere are presented. Plasma sheet electron densities and temperatures at 20 +/- 2 R-S in Saturn's magnetosphere are studied and examined as a function of SLS3 longitude. Evidence for a density minimum at 170 degrees is presented which is in excellent agreement with total electron density results in the 3-5 R-S range. The density asymmetry is interpreted as the result of a periodic plasma sheet motion where the northward offset of the plasma sheet varies with longitude hence producing a density modulation in the equatorial plane. The effect of magnetospheric compressions on the dayside density asymmetry are discussed.

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