Directivity of Saturn electrostatic discharges and ionospheric implications

Journal Article · Fri Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1985 · Icarus; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0019-1035(85)90139-3· OSTI ID:6008769

Zarka, P

From a detailed analysis of the intensity distribution of Saturn electrostatic discharges (SED) as a function of time during the Voyager 1 encounter with Saturn, the total beaming pattern of the SED source, which is found to be isotropic, is determined. This result allows for the derivation of the diurnal variations of the peak electron density over the dayside equatorial ionosphere of Saturn, and thus explains the puzzling features observed during the Voyager 1 encounter with Saturn - the longer extent of the SED visibility afer closest approach and the existence of double-humped SED episodes before the encounter - by ionospheric absorption of the SED radio emission. 18 references.

• Research Organization: Meudon Observatoire, Hauts-de-Seine, France
• OSTI ID: 6008769
• Journal Information: Icarus; (United States), Journal Name: Icarus; (United States) Vol. 61; ISSN ICRSA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640107* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Planetary Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
DAILY VARIATIONS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRON DENSITY
ELECTROSTATICS
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
PLANETS
RADIATIONS
RADIOWAVE RADIATION
SATURN PLANET
SPACE VEHICLES
TIME DEPENDENCE
VARIATIONS
VEHICLES
VOYAGER SPACE PROBES
WAVE PROPAGATION