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The Cushion Region and Dayside Magnetodisc Structure at Saturn
Author(s) -
Staniland N. R.,
Dougherty M. K.,
Masters A.,
Achilleos N.
Publication year - 2021
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 - 10.1029/2020gl091796
Subject(s) - saturn , noon , magnetopause , magnetosphere of saturn , jupiter (rocket family) , physics , magnetosphere , plasma sheet , geophysics , magnetic field , geology , astrobiology , astrophysics , astronomy , planet , spacecraft , quantum mechanics
A sustained quasi‐dipolar magnetic field between the current sheet outer edge and the magnetopause, known as a cushion region, has previously been observed at Jupiter, but not yet at Saturn. Using the complete Cassini magnetometer data, the first evidence of a cushion region forming at Saturn is shown. Only five examples of a sustained cushion are found, revealing this phenomenon to be rare. Four of the cushion regions are identified at dusk and one pre‐noon. It is suggested that greater heating of plasma post‐noon coupled with the expansion of the field through the afternoon sector makes the disc more unstable in this region. These results highlight a key difference between the Saturn and Jupiter systems.