Modeling Plasma Conditions Upstream of Titan

ACHILLEOS, N. A.; ARRIDGE, C. S.; BERTUCCI, C.; GUIO, P.; ROMANELLI, N.

Congreso; AGU Fall Meeting 2013; 2013

Using the Cassini spacecraft's T15 flyby of Titan as a central example, we illustrate the use of a force-balance model of Saturn's plasmadisc in analysing the variability of the magnetic field and plasma parameters in the near-Titan environment. We show that we can obtain good agreement with the quasi-periodic variations by combining an established disc model (Achilleos et al, 2010) with the empirical model of plasmasheet 'flapping' by Arridge et al (2011). We also compare the behaviour of the variations seen at the spacecraft with those predicted by the model, for a Titan-based observer. The phase relations of the magnetic field components may be used in a preliminary distinction between a model which comprises a rotating tilted disc, and one which has an inherent azimuthal asymmetry in plasma pressure.