Low-energy particles at the bow shock, magnetopause, and outer magnetosphere of Saturn

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

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA088iA11p08817· OSTI ID:5123820

Maclennan, C G; Lanzerotti, L J; Krimigis, S M; Lepping, R P

Low-energy electron (>22 keV) and protons (> or approx. =30 keV) measured by the Low-Energy Charged Particle Experiment (LECP) during the encounters of the two Voyager spacecraft with Saturn are described. The characteristics of the dayside bow shock, magnetopause, and outer magnetosphere are emphasized. Only one crossing of the Saturian bow shock was observed inbound during the Voyager 1 encounter, whereas five crossings of the bow shock were identified during the Voyager 2 approach to the planet. During several of these bow shock crossings, low energy protons were observed to be streaming from the direction of the dawnside of the magnetosphere. In the magnetosheath the protons were observed to be oriented primarily with pitch angles of approx.90/sup 0/. Prior to the inbound magnetopause crossings (as defined by the magnetometer experiment on Voyager), the low-energy protons and electrons were observed to increase in intensity. Further, during Voyager 2 encounter, an increase in the proton and electron fluxes accompanied a change in orientation of the magnetosheath magnetioc field from one with a vertical component opposite to the planetary field to one with a vertical component in the direction of the planetary field. Examination of the flux distributions of the protons suggests that the magnetopuase was moving inward with a lower limit speed of approx.10 km/s during the Voyager 2 approach to the planet. The observed average subsolar magnetopause position at the time of Voyager 2 encounter was 18.5 R/sub S/, whereas during the Voyager 1 encounter it was considerably more extended, at 23.5 R/sub S/.

• Research Organization: Bell Laboratories
• OSTI ID: 5123820
• 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
ATMOSPHERES
ELECTRON DENSITY
ELECTRON TEMPERATURE
INCLINATION
MAGNETOPAUSE
MAGNETOSHEATH
PLANETARY ATMOSPHERES
PLANETARY MAGNETOSPHERES
PLANETS
PROTON DENSITY
PROTON TEMPERATURE
SATURN PLANET
SPACE VEHICLES
VEHICLES
VOYAGER SPACE PROBES