Premium
A test‐particle model of the atmosphere/ionosphere system of Saturn's main rings
Author(s) -
Bouhram M.,
Johnson R. E.,
Berthelier J.J.,
Illiano J.M.,
Tokar R. L.,
Young D. T.,
Crary F. J.
Publication year - 2006
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 - 10.1029/2005gl025011
Subject(s) - orbiter , ionosphere , atmosphere (unit) , saturn , venus , ion , physics , atmospheric entry , rings of saturn , astrobiology , plasma , atmospheric sciences , computational physics , astrophysics , astronomy , meteorology , planet , nuclear physics , quantum mechanics
The first pass of the Cassini orbiter near the A and B rings of Saturn, formed mainly by H 2 O ice particles, revealed the presence of an ionosphere composed of O + and O 2 + ions. Such a result suggests the existence of an atmospheric halo made up of molecular oxygen surrounding the rings. It is produced by solar UV radiation‐induced decomposition of ice releasing molecular oxygen which does not stick on the surface at the relevant temperatures. A Monte Carlo model of the atmosphere/ionosphere ring system that uses test‐particles and incorporates chemical processes and transport of both neutrals and plasma ions is developed. Published ion data from the ion mass spectrometer (IMS) experiment were used as constraint and the model provides a very satisfactory fit between simulated O + and O 2 + ion densities and those measured along Cassini trajectory.