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On the dust ring current of Saturn's F‐ring
Author(s) -
Hill Jay Roderick,
Mendis D. A.
Publication year - 1982
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/gl009i009p01069
Subject(s) - saturn , ring current , current (fluid) , ring (chemistry) , physics , rings of saturn , magnetosphere , magnetosphere of saturn , atmospheric sciences , plasma , environmental science , astrobiology , astronomy , planet , magnetopause , chemistry , nuclear physics , organic chemistry , thermodynamics
As a consequence of the relative motion between the fine charged dust in Saturn's F‐ring and the surrounding plasma, it is estimated that this ring carries a current of over 10 5 A. It is shown that such a current can alter the magnetospheric field morphology in the vicinity of the ring to an extent which could be detected by a spacecraft at a height of over 100 km above the ring plane. This in principle provides a method of estimating the dust ring current and consequently the grain charge. Some consequences of this novel current in the stability of the dust ring are briefly discussed.