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Electron density and temperature measurements in the cold plasma environment of Titan: Implications for atmospheric escape
Author(s) -
Edberg N. J. T.,
Wahlund J.E.,
Ågren K.,
Morooka M. W.,
Modolo R.,
Bertucci C.,
Dougherty M. K.
Publication year - 2010
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 - 10.1029/2010gl044544
Subject(s) - titan (rocket family) , ionosphere , atmospheric escape , electron density , atmospheric sciences , electron temperature , plasma , langmuir probe , physics , atmosphere of titan , electron , atomic physics , geophysics , astrobiology , plasma diagnostics , mars exploration program , quantum mechanics
We present electron temperature and density measurements of Titan's cold ionospheric plasma from the Langmuir probe instrument on Cassini from 52 flybys. An expression of the density as a function of temperature is presented for altitudes below two Titan radii. The density falls off exponentially with increased temperature as log(n e ) = −2 . 0log(T e ) + 0.6 on average around Titan. We show that this relation varies with location around Titan as well as with the solar illumination direction. Significant heating of the electrons appears to take place on the night/wake side of Titan as the density‐temperature relation is less steep there. Furthermore, we show that the magnetospheric ram pressure is not balanced by the thermal and magnetic pressure in the topside ionosphere and discuss its implications for plasma escape. The cold ionospheric plasma of Titan extends to higher altitudes in the wake region, indicating the loss of atmosphere down the induced magnetospheric tail.