Jackman, CM; Russell, CT; Southwood, DJ; Arridge, CS; Achilleos, N; Dougherty, MK; (2007) Strong rapid dipolarizations in Saturn's magnetotail: In situ evidence of reconnection. Geophysical Research Letters , 34 (11) , Article L11203. 10.1029/2007GL029764.

Preview

PDF 2007GL029764.pdf Available under License : See the attached licence file. Download (350kB)

Abstract

The oppositely directed magnetic field in the kronian magnetic tail is expected eventually to reconnect across the current sheet, allowing plasma to escape in an anti-solar direction down the tail. This reconnection process accelerates ions and electrons both toward and away from the planet, allowing the magnetotail to relax to a more dipolar configuration. Previous missions to Saturn shed no light on the possible presence of this critical process in the kronian magnetosphere. Recent Cassini measurements of the magnetic field in the magnetotail, reported herein, reveal strong, rapid dipolarizations between 40 and 50 Saturn radii (R-S) downtail, signalling the episodic release of energy to the magnetosphere and ions to the solar wind.

Download activity - last month

Export as JSONXMLCSV

Download activity - last 12 months

Export as XMLJSONCSV

Downloads by country - last 12 months

Export as XMLJSONCSV

Archive Staff Only

View Item