The electron density of Saturn's magnetosphere

Abstract

We have investigated statistically the electron density below 5 cm-3 in the magnetosphere of Saturn (7-80RS, Saturn radii) using 44 orbits of the floating potential data from the RPWS Langmuir probe (LP) onboard Cassini. The density distribution shows a clear dependence on the distance from the Saturnian rotation axis (√X2+Y2) as well as on the distance from the equatorial plane (|Z|), indicating a disclike structure. From the characteristics of the density distribution, we have identified three regions: the extension of the plasma disc, the magnetodisc region, and the lobe regions. The plasma disc region is at L<15, where L is the radial distance to the equatorial crossing of the dipole magnetic field line, and confined to |Z|<5RS. The magnetodisc is located beyond L=15, and its density has a large variability. The variability has quasi-periodic characteristics with a periodicity corresponding to the planetary rotation. For Z >15RS, the magnetospheric density distribution becomes constant in Z. However, the density still varies quasi-periodically with the planetary rotation also in this region. In fact, the quasiperiodic variation has been observed all over the magnetosphere beyond L=15. The region above Z=15RS is identified as the lobe region. We also found that the magnetosphere can occasionally move latitudinally under the control of the density in the magnetosphere and the solar wind. From the empirical distributions of the electron densities obtained in this study, we have constructed an electron density model of the Saturnian nightside magnetosphere beyond 7RS. The obtained model can well reproduce the observed density distribution, and can thus be useful for magnetospheric modelling studies. © 2009 Author(s).