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Cassini RPWS Dust Observation Near the Janus/Epimetheus Orbit
Author(s) -
Ye S.Y.,
Kurth W. S.,
Hospodarsky G. B.,
Persoon A. M.,
Gurnett D. A.,
Morooka M.,
Wahlund J.E.,
Hsu H.W.,
Seiß M.,
Srama R.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: space physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2169-9402
pISSN - 2169-9380
DOI - 10.1029/2017ja025112
Subject(s) - physics , plasma , dusty plasma , astronomy , spacecraft , waves in plasmas , quantum mechanics
During the Ring Grazing orbits near the end of Cassini mission, the spacecraft crossed the equatorial plane near the orbit of Janus/Epimetheus (~2.5 Rs ). This region is populated with dust particles that can be detected by the Radio and Plasma Wave Science (RPWS) instrument via an electric field antenna signal. Analysis of the voltage waveforms recorded on the RPWS antennas provides estimations of the density and size distribution of the dust particles. Measured RPWS profiles, fitted with Lorentzian functions, are shown to be mostly consistent with the Cosmic Dust Analyzer, the dedicated dust instrument on board Cassini. The thickness of the dusty ring varies between 600 and 1,000 km. The peak location shifts north and south within 100 km of the ring plane, likely a function of the precession phase of Janus orbit.