The spatial distribution and polarization of Saturn narrowband (NB) emissions have been studied by using Cassini Radio and Plasma Wave Sciences data and goniopolarimetric data obtained through an inversion algorithm with a preset source located at the center of Saturn. From 2004 January 1 to 2017 September 12, NB emissions were selected automatically by a computer program and rechecked manually. The spatial distribution shows a preference for high latitude and intensity peaks in the region within 6 Saturn radii (R s ) for both 5 and 20 kHz NB emissions. 5 kHz NB emissions also show a local time preference roughly in the 18:00−22:00 sector. The Enceladus plasma torus makes it difficult for NB emissions to propagate to the low latitude regions outside the plasma torus. The extent of the low latitude regions where 5 and 20 kHz NB emissions were never observed is consistent with the corresponding plasma torus density contour in the meridional plane. 20 kHz NB emissions show a high circular polarization while 5 kHz NB emissions are less circularly polarized with | | < V 0.6 for majority of the cases. And cases of 5 kHz NB emissions with high circular polarization are more frequently observed at high latitude especially at the northern and southern edges of the Enceladus plasma torus.
Electron cyclotron harmonic (ECH) waves are electrostatic emissions observed in bands between the harmonics (n) of electron gyrofrequency (f ce ), with dominant wave power centered around (n + 1/2) f ce (e.g.,
The major energy source of the Jovian system is derived from its fast rotation, and its major particle source is from volcanic activities from Io (Bolton et al., 2015). In addition to being plasma sources, large moons embedded within the Jovian magnetosphere can act as candidates responsible for losses of magnetospheric energetic particles as well (Paonessa & Cheng, 1985). The net effect of how moons affect radiation intensities in their environment is determined by the balance of loss processes (such as the moon absorption time scale) and sources (such as how fast new particles are provided by radial transport or local acceleration). Therefore, the moon absorption of radially diffusing energetic particles is recognized as an important physical process that needs to be considered when evaluating the particle dynamics in the Jovian magnetosphere (e.g.,
By constructing an empirical model of the spectral and latitudinal distribution of ion cyclotron waves on the basis of Cassini datasets, we investigate the resonant interactions between ion cyclotron waves and radiation belt electrons at Saturn. Calculations based on quasi‐linear bounce‐averaged diffusion coefficients show that at Saturn ion cyclotron waves can efficiently pitch angle scatter >∼1 MeV to tens of MeV electrons into the loss cone thereby inducing precipitation loss, while the mixed and momentum scattering effects are typically negligible. The resultant electron loss timescales range from a few to tens of minutes, which in fact decrease significantly with increasing L‐shell at L = 4–6. We also find that the kinetic effects introduced by pick‐up ring particles cause distinct changes in pitch angle scattering efficiency for lower energy electrons (<3 MeV at L = 5). Our results demonstrate that ion cyclotron waves play a significant role in the dynamics of Saturn's radiation belt electrons.
Based on Cassini observations from 2004 to 2016, we perform a comprehensive analysis of the statistical distribution of the occurrence rate, averaged amplitude, wave normal angle (WNA), ellipticity, and power spectral intensity of ion cyclotron waves in Saturn's inner magnetosphere. Our results show that ion cyclotron waves mainly occur between the orbits of Enceladus and Dione near the equatorial region (∣λ∣ < 20°), with higher occurrence rates in the northern hemisphere than the southern hemisphere. The averaged wave amplitudes vary between 0.1 and 2 nT with a strong day–night asymmetry and a pronounced minimum at the equator. Saturnian ion cyclotron waves are predominantly left-handed polarized with small WNAs near the equator and become linearly polarized with larger WNAs at higher latitudes. The major wave power occurs frequently at frequencies of 0.5–1.2 f w + , where f w + is the equatorial gyrofrequency of H2O+ ions, with the strongest intensity (>∼10 nT2 Hz−1) at L ∼ 6.5 statistically present in the midnight sector.
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