IAFE   05512
INSTITUTO DE ASTRONOMIA Y FISICA DEL ESPACIO
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
artículos
Título:
Electron density and temperature measurements in the cold plasma environment of Titan: Implications for atmospheric escape
Autor/es:
EDBERG, N. J. T.; WAHLUND, J.-E.; ÅGREN, K.; MOROOKA, M. W.; BERTUCCI, C.; DOUGHERTY, M. K.
Revista:
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
Editorial:
AMER GEOPHYSICAL UNION
Referencias:
Año: 2010 p. 1 - 4
ISSN:
0094-8276
Resumen:
We present electron temperature and density measurements of Titan's cold
ionospheric plasma from the Langmuir probe instrument on Cassini from 52
flybys. An expression of the density as a function of temperature is
presented for altitudes below two Titan radii. The density falls off
exponentially with increased temperature as log(ne) =
‑2.0log(Te) + 0.6 on average around Titan. We show that
this relation varies with location around Titan as well as with the
solar illumination direction. Significant heating of the electrons
appears to take place on the night/wake side of Titan as the
density-temperature relation is less steep there. Furthermore, we show
that the magnetospheric ram pressure is not balanced by the thermal and
magnetic pressure in the topside ionosphere and discuss its implications
for plasma escape. The cold ionospheric plasma of Titan extends to
higher altitudes in the wake region, indicating the loss of atmosphere
down the induced magnetospheric tail.