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Cusp observation at Saturn's high‐latitude magnetosphere by the Cassini spacecraft
Author(s) -
Jasinski J. M.,
Arridge C. S.,
Lamy L.,
Leisner J. S.,
Thomsen M. F.,
Mitchell D. G.,
Coates A. J.,
Radioti A.,
Jones G. H.,
Roussos E.,
Krupp N.,
Grodent D.,
Dougherty M. K.,
Waite J. H.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/2014gl059319
Subject(s) - magnetopause , magnetosphere of saturn , physics , magnetosphere , saturn , magnetic reconnection , solar wind , cusp (singularity) , bow shock (aerodynamics) , geophysics , astrophysics , ionosphere , magnetosheath , astronomy , astrobiology , plasma , planet , shock wave , mechanics , geometry , mathematics , quantum mechanics
We report on the first analysis of magnetospheric cusp observations at Saturn by multiple in situ instruments onboard the Cassini spacecraft. Using this we infer the process of reconnection was occurring at Saturn's magnetopause. This agrees with remote observations that showed the associated auroral signatures of reconnection. Cassini crossed the northern cusp around noon local time along a poleward trajectory. The spacecraft observed ion energy‐latitude dispersions—a characteristic signature of the terrestrial cusp. This ion dispersion is “stepped,” which shows that the reconnection is pulsed. The ion energy‐pitch angle dispersions suggest that the field‐aligned distance from the cusp to the reconnection site varies between ∼27 and 51 R S . An intensification of lower frequencies of the Saturn kilometric radiation emissions suggests the prior arrival of a solar wind shock front, compressing the magnetosphere and providing more favorable conditions for magnetopause reconnection.