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Flux transfer event observation at Saturn's dayside magnetopause by the Cassini spacecraft
Author(s) -
Jasinski Jamie M.,
Slavin James A.,
Arridge Christopher S.,
Poh Gangkai,
Jia Xianzhe,
Sergis Nick,
Coates Andrew J.,
Jones Geraint H.,
Waite J. Hunter
Publication year - 2016
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 - 10.1002/2016gl069260
Subject(s) - magnetopause , physics , flux (metallurgy) , saturn , magnetosphere , rope , magnetosphere of saturn , magnetic flux , radius , geophysics , magnetosheath , solar wind , astrophysics , magnetic field , planet , materials science , computer security , structural engineering , quantum mechanics , computer science , engineering , metallurgy
Abstract We present the first observation of a flux rope at Saturn's dayside magnetopause. This is an important result because it shows that the Saturnian magnetopause is conducive to multiple X‐line reconnection and flux rope generation. Minimum variance analysis shows that the magnetic signature is consistent with a flux rope. The magnetic observations were well fitted to a constant‐ α force‐free flux rope model. The radius and magnetic flux content of the rope are estimated to be 4600–8300 km and 0.2–0.8 MWb, respectively. Cassini also observed five traveling compression regions (remote signatures of flux ropes), in the adjacent magnetosphere. The magnetic flux content is compared to other estimates of flux opening via reconnection at Saturn.