Trapped radiation belts of Saturn: first look

Journal Article · Fri Jan 25 04:00:00 EST 1980 · Science; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1126/science.207.4429.425· OSTI ID:5174566

Fillius, W ^[1]; Ip, W H; McIlwain, C E

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1. Univ. of California, San Diego

Pioneer 11 made the first exploration of the magnetosphere and trapped radiation belts of Saturn. Saturn's magnetosphere is intermediate in size between Earth's and Jupiter's, with trapped particle intensities comparable to Earth's. The outer region of Saturn's magnetosphere contains lower energy radiation and is variable with time; the inner region contains higher-energy particles. The pitch angle distributions show a remarkable variety of field-aligned and locally mirroring configurations. The moons and especially the rings of Saturn are effective absorbers of trapped particles; underneath the rings, the trapped radiation is completely absorbed. The discovery of a new ring, called the F ring, a new division, the Pioneer division, and a moon, called 1979 S 2, is confirmed. The latter has probably been seen from Earth. There may be evidence for more bodies like 1979 S 2, but at this stage the interpretation of the data is ambiguous. Estimates that the cross-sectional area of the F ring is >7 x 10/sup 13/ square centimeters and that the opacity is >10/sup -5/ were obtained with the aid of particle diffusion rates. Cosmic-ray albedo neutron decay should be looked into as a source of energetic particles in the inner magnetosphere of Saturn. 7 figures, 2 tables.

• OSTI ID: 5174566
• Journal Information: Science; (United States), Journal Name: Science; (United States) Vol. 207; ISSN SCIEA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640107* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Planetary Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ATMOSPHERES
DATA
DATA FORMS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
GRAPHS
INCLINATION
INFORMATION
NUMERICAL DATA
OPACITY
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PIONEER SPACE PROBES
PLANETARY ATMOSPHERES
PLANETARY MAGNETOSPHERES
PLANETS
PROTON DENSITY
RADIATION BELTS
RADIATION FLUX
RINGS
SATELLITES
SATURN PLANET
SPACE VEHICLES