Mapping Titan's Induced Magnetosphere

BERTUCCI, C.; ACHILLEOS, N.; SZEGO, K.; WAHLUND, J.-E.; MODOLO, R.; SITTLER, E. C.; COATES, A. J.; GARNIER, P.; DANDOURAS, I.; MA, Y.; CRARY, F. J.; YOUNG, D. T.

Congreso; American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2008; 2008

American Geophysical Union

In this work we study the spatial distribution of the magnetic pressure in the vicinity of Titan from all the Cassini flybys to date in an attempt to characterize the average extent and shape of its induced magnetosphere at altitudes above 950 km. The role of parameters such as Saturn Local Time (SLT), total upstream pressure, and convective electric field is studied. Then we combine Cassini magnetometer (MAG), Plasma Spectrometer (CAPS), Plasma Wave/Langmuir probe (RPWS/LP), and Magnetospheric Imager (MIMI) observations in order to compare, when possible, the magnitudes of the dynamic, magnetic and plasma pressures at different altitudes. Finally, we discuss the constraints that these results set for the current theoretical models.