Dust detection in space using the monopole and dipole electric field antennas

Abstract

During the grand finale of the Cassini mission, the Radio and Plasma Wave Science instrument will be used to assess the risk involved in exposing the instruments to the dusty environment around the F and D rings. More specifically, the slope of the size distribution and the dust density will be determined based on the signals induced on the electric antennas by dust impacts. To reduce the uncertainties in the generation mechanism of the dust impact signals and the resulting dust properties based on the interpretation of data, we designed and carried out experiments in late 2015, when we switched antenna mode from monopole to dipole at the ring plane crossings. Comparison of the data collected with these two antenna setups provides valuable hints on how the dust impact signals are generated in each antenna mode.