HR: 1340h
AN: P43A-0960 [Abstracts]
TI: The Exosphere of Titan and its Interaction With the Kronian Magnetosphere : MIMI Observations and
Modeling
AU: * Garnier, P
EM: Philippe.Garnier@cesr.fr
AF: Centre d'Etude Spatial des Rayonnements, 9 av colonel Roche, Toulouse, 31028
France
AU: Dandouras, I
EM: Iannis.Dandouras@cesr.fr
AF: Centre d'Etude Spatial des Rayonnements, 9 av colonel Roche, Toulouse, 31028
France
AU: Toublanc, D
EM: Dominique.Toublanc@cesr.fr
AF: Centre d'Etude Spatial des Rayonnements, 9 av colonel Roche, Toulouse, 31028
France
AU: Mitchell, D
EM: don.mitchell@jhuapl.edu
AF: Applied Physics Laboratory, John Hopkins
University, 11100 John Hopkins Road, Laurel, 20723-6099
United States
AU: Krimigis, T
EM: tom.krimigis@jhuapl.edu
AF: Applied Physics Laboratory, John Hopkins
University, 11100 John Hopkins Road, Laurel, 20723-6099
United States
AU: Krupp, N
EM: krupp@linmpi.mpg.de
AF: Max-Planck-Institut fr
Sonnensystemforschung, Katlenburg-Lindau, Katlenburg-Lindau, D-37191
Germany
AU: Hamilton, D C
EM: dch@umd.edu
AF: Department
of Physics, University of Maryland, College Park, 20742
United States
AU: Brandt, P C
EM: brandpc1@jhuapl.edu
AF: Applied Physics Laboratory, John Hopkins
University, 11100 John Hopkins Road, Laurel, 20723-6099
United States
AU: Roelof, E
EM: Edmond.Roelof@jhuapl.edu
AF: Applied Physics Laboratory, John Hopkins
University, 11100 John Hopkins Road, Laurel, 20723-6099
United States
AU: Waite, H J
EM: hunterw@umich.edu
AF: Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic, and
Space Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 48109-2143
United States
AB:
Titan's nitrogen-rich atmosphere is directly bombarded by energetic ions, due to its lack of a significant intrinsic magnetic
field. Singly-charged energetic ions from Saturn's magnetosphere undergo charge exchange collisions with neutral atoms in
Titan's exosphere,
being transformed into energetic neutral atoms (ENAs). The Ion and Neutral Camera (INCA), one of the three sensors that
comprise the Magnetosphere Imaging Instrument (MIMI) on the Cassini/Huygens mission to Saturn and Titan, images the ENA
emissions from various ion/gas interaction regions in the saturnian magnetosphere. During the Cassini's orbits around Saturn,
the spacecraft performed several Titan flybys. INCA data acquired during these flybys confirm model predictions of dominant
finite ion gyroradii effects, but also reveal a much more complex interaction. These observations are analyzed and compared
to simulations, involving non thermal escape and low altitude loss mechanisms. A Titan exosphere model is also proposed.
DE: 0328 Exosphere
DE: 2732 Magnetosphere interactions with satellites and rings
DE: 6281 Titan
SC: Planetary Sciences [P]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005