Article (Scientific journals)
Transient auroral features at Saturn: Signatures of energetic particle injections in the magnetosphere
Radioti, Aikaterini; Grodent, Denis; Gérard, Jean-Claude et al.
2009In Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics, 114, p. 03210
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Keywords :
Ionosphere: Ionosphere/magnetosphere interactions (2736); Magnetospheric Physics: Auroral phenomena (2407); Magnetospheric Physics: Magnetospheric configuration and dynamics; Ionosphere: Planetary ionospheres (5435; 5729; 6026); Ionosphere: Wave/particle interactions (7867)
Abstract :
[en] We report for the first time transient isolated auroral spots at Saturn's southern polar region, based on Hubble Space Telescope (HST) FUV images. The spots last several minutes and appear distinct from the rest of the auroral emissions. We study two sets of HST and Cassini observations during which Cassini instrumentation detected signatures of energetic particle injections close to the region where, on the same day, HST observed transient auroral spots. On the basis of the simultaneous remote and in situ observations, we discuss the possibility that the transient features are associated with the dynamical processes taking place in the Kronian magnetosphere. Given the limitations in the available observations, we suggest the following possible explanations for the transient aurora. The injection region could directly be coupled to Saturn's ionosphere by pitch angle diffusion and electron scattering by whistler waves, or by the electric current flowing along the boundary of the injected cloud. The energy contained in the injection region indicates that electron scattering could account for the transient aurora process.
Disciplines :
Space science, astronomy & astrophysics
Author, co-author :
Radioti, Aikaterini ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Labo de physique atmosphérique et planétaire (LPAP)
Grodent, Denis  ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Labo de physique atmosphérique et planétaire (LPAP)
Gérard, Jean-Claude  ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Labo de physique atmosphérique et planétaire (LPAP)
Roussos, Elias;  Max-Planck-Institut fuer Sonnensystemforschung, Katlenburg-Lindau, Germany
Paranicas, C.;  Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University, Laurel, Maryland, USA
Bonfond, Bertrand  ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Labo de physique atmosphérique et planétaire (LPAP)
Mitchell, D. G.;  Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University, Laurel, Maryland, USA
Krupp, N.;  Max-Planck-Institut fuer Sonnensystemforschung, Katlenburg-Lindau, Germany
Krimigis, S.;  Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University, Laurel, Maryland, USA
Clarke, J. T.;  Center for Space Physics, Boston University, Boston, USA
Language :
English
Title :
Transient auroral features at Saturn: Signatures of energetic particle injections in the magnetosphere
Publication date :
21 March 2009
Journal title :
Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics
ISSN :
2169-9380
eISSN :
2169-9402
Publisher :
American Geophysical Union (AGU), Washington, United States - District of Columbia
Volume :
114
Pages :
03210
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Available on ORBi :
since 02 September 2009

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