HR: 1330h
AN: SM13A-04    [Abstracts]
TI: Modeling Saturn's Inner Plasmasphere: Cassini's Closest Approach
AU: * Moore, L
EM: moore@bu.edu
AF: Center for Space Physics / Boston University, 725 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 02215
AU: Mendillo, M
EM: mendillo@bu.edu
AF: Center for Space Physics / Boston University, 725 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 02215
AB: Ion densities from the three-dimensional Saturn-Thermosphere-Ionosphere-Model (STIM, Moore et al., 2004) are extended above the plasma exobase using the formalism of Pierrard and Lemaire (1996, 1998), which evaluates the balance of gravitational, centrifugal and electric forces on the plasma. The parameter space of low-energy ionospheric contributions to Saturn's plasmasphere is explored by comparing results that span the observed extremes of plasma temperature, 650 K to 1700 K, and a range of velocity distributions, Lorentzian (or Kappa) to Maxwellian. Calculations are made for plasma densities along the path of the Cassini spacecraft's orbital insertion on 1 July 2004. These calculations neglect any ring or satellite sources of plasma, which are most likely minor contributors at 1.3 Saturn radii. Modeled densities will be compared with Cassini measurements as they become available. Moore, L.E., M. Mendillo, I.C.F. Mueller-Wodarg, and D.L. Murr, Icarus, 172, 503-520, 2004. Pierrard, V. and J. Lemaire, J. Geophys. Res., 101, 7923-7934, 1996. Pierrard, V. and J. Lemaire, J. Geophys. Res., 103, 4117, 1998.
DE: 2459 Planetary ionospheres (5435, 5729, 6026, 6027, 6028)
DE: 2768 Plasmasphere
DE: 5729 Ionospheres (2459)
DE: 6275 Saturn
SC: SPA-Magnetospheric Physics [SM]
MN: 2005 Joint Assembly