Flux and source of energetic protons in Saturn's inner magnetosphere

Journal Article · Tue Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1983 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA088iA11p08923· OSTI ID:5015857

Schardt, A W; McDonald, F B

The flux of energetic protons in Saturn's inner magnetosphere was observed in two channels from 48--63 and 63--160 MeV. Absorption features caused by the G ring and the satellites Enceladus and Mimas were easily identifiable. The flux observed in the absorption slot of Mimas can be maintained by the decay of a cosmic ray albedo neutron flux of 7 x 10/sup -3/ cm/sup -2/ s/sup -1/ sr/sup -1/. This flux is entirely consistent with calculations of the neutron flux produced by galactic cosmic ray interactions with the rings of Saturn. the ominidirectional proton flux of 8.2 x 10/sup 3/ cm/sup -2/ s/sup -1/ at 2.734 R/sub S/ requires a residence time of 30 years. Both the residence time and the energy spectrum are comparable to those found in the inner radiation belt of earth. The angular distributions is nearly isotropic in the Mimas slot and beyond 4 R/sub S/. Otherwise the pitch angle distribution is pancake and has been approximated by sin/sup n/ 0 with n in the range 2.7. This distribution is consistent with an isotropic neutron source in the ring plane.

• Research Organization: Laboratory for High Energy Astrophysics, NASA/Goddard Space Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771
• OSTI ID: 5015857
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 88:A11; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640107* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Planetary Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ANGULAR DISTRIBUTION
ATMOSPHERES
DISTRIBUTION
ENERGY RANGE
ENERGY SPECTRA
INCLINATION
MEV RANGE
PLANETARY ATMOSPHERES
PLANETARY MAGNETOSPHERES
PLANETS
PROTON DENSITY
PROTON SPECTRA
RINGS
SATELLITES
SATURN PLANET
SPACE VEHICLES
SPECTRA
VEHICLES
VOYAGER SPACE PROBES