INVESTIGADORES
BERTUCCI Cesar
artículos
Título:
Plasma environment in the wake of Titan from hybrid simulation: A case study
Autor/es:
MODOLO, R.; CHANTEUR, G. M.; WAHLUND, J.-E.; CANU, P.; KURTH, W. S.; GURNETT, D.; MATTHEWS, A. P.; BERTUCCI, C.
Revista:
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
Editorial:
AMER GEOPHYSICAL UNION
Referencias:
Año: 2007
ISSN:
0094-8276
Resumen:
On 26 December 2005, the Cassini spacecraft flew through Titan's plasma
wake and revealed a complex and dynamic region. Observations suggest a
strong asymmetry which seems to be displaced from the ideal position of
the wake. Two distinct plasma regions are identified with a significant
difference on the electron number density and on the plasma composition.
Simulation results using a three-dimensional and multi-species hybrid
model, performed in conditions similar to those encountered during the
flyby, are presented and compared to the observations. An acceptable
agreement is shown between the model predictions and the observations.
We suggest that the observed asymmetries, in terms of density and plasma
composition, are mainly caused by the a combination of the asymmetry in
the ion/electron production rate and the magnetic field morphology,
where the first plasma region is connected to the dayside hemisphere of
Titan's ionosphere while the other is connected to the nightside
hemisphere.