Strong rapid dipolarizations in Saturn's magnetotail: in situ evidence of reconnection
Strong rapid dipolarizations in Saturn's magnetotail: in situ evidence of reconnection
The oppositely directed magnetic field in the kronian magnetic tail is expected eventually to reconnect across the current sheet, allowing plasma to escape in an anti-solar direction down the tail. This reconnection process accelerates ions and electrons both toward and away from the planet, allowing the magnetotail to relax to a more dipolar configuration. Previous missions to Saturn shed no light on the possible presence of this critical process in the kronian magnetosphere. Recent Cassini measurements of the magnetic field in the magnetotail, reported herein, reveal strong, rapid dipolarizations between 40 and 50 Saturn radii (RS) downtail, signalling the episodic release of energy to the magnetosphere and ions to the solar wind.
Jackman, C.M.
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Russell, C.T.
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Southwood, D.J.
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Arridge, C.S.
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Achilleos, N.
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Dougherty, M.K.
aa297043-7e86-4501-952b-a6363edaaba8
16 June 2007
Jackman, C.M.
9bc3456c-b254-48f1-ade0-912c5b8b4529
Russell, C.T.
0beb88bf-9d0e-4b75-80ae-61ba3776ce59
Southwood, D.J.
ff211925-ce62-45fd-845f-85038abb4699
Arridge, C.S.
2efb7acf-be5b-41b4-bade-8b4ff0d78236
Achilleos, N.
620cd146-20a4-4a84-8fd9-2a3e5d95aa2a
Dougherty, M.K.
aa297043-7e86-4501-952b-a6363edaaba8
Jackman, C.M., Russell, C.T., Southwood, D.J., Arridge, C.S., Achilleos, N. and Dougherty, M.K.
(2007)
Strong rapid dipolarizations in Saturn's magnetotail: in situ evidence of reconnection.
Geophysical Research Letters, 34 (11), [L11203].
(doi:10.1029/2007GL029764).
Abstract
The oppositely directed magnetic field in the kronian magnetic tail is expected eventually to reconnect across the current sheet, allowing plasma to escape in an anti-solar direction down the tail. This reconnection process accelerates ions and electrons both toward and away from the planet, allowing the magnetotail to relax to a more dipolar configuration. Previous missions to Saturn shed no light on the possible presence of this critical process in the kronian magnetosphere. Recent Cassini measurements of the magnetic field in the magnetotail, reported herein, reveal strong, rapid dipolarizations between 40 and 50 Saturn radii (RS) downtail, signalling the episodic release of energy to the magnetosphere and ions to the solar wind.
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Published date: 16 June 2007
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Local EPrints ID: 437134
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/437134
ISSN: 0094-8276
PURE UUID: 3993c28b-8f05-478e-a58b-819c8117283f
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Date deposited: 17 Jan 2020 17:35
Last modified: 05 Jun 2024 18:33
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Author:
C.T. Russell
Author:
D.J. Southwood
Author:
C.S. Arridge
Author:
N. Achilleos
Author:
M.K. Dougherty
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