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Possible eigenmode trapping in density enhancements in Saturn's inner magnetosphere
Author(s) -
Menietti J. D.,
Yoon P. H.,
Gurnett D. A.
Publication year - 2007
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 - 10.1029/2006gl028647
Subject(s) - magnetosphere , saturn , physics , magnetosphere of saturn , normal mode , jupiter (rocket family) , plasma , cyclotron , astrophysics , astronomy , planet , magnetopause , quantum mechanics , space shuttle , vibration
We report a re‐examination of observations of radio waves and banded fine structure observed by Cassini in the Saturn inner magnetosphere. These emissions have been identified in the past as Z‐mode emission from possible density cavities along the inner edge of the Saturn plasma torus. A careful examination of the emission fine structure in a region where the ratio of plasma to cyclotron frequency f p / f ce < 1 suggests that the emission bands may be due to eigenmode trapping from density enhancement source regions. The observations are similar to those made at both the Earth and Jupiter and suggest that radio emission fine structure is a remote diagnostic of density fluctuations in planetary magnetospheres.