Plasma Physics Seminar ( Phys 769)

Dr. Abigail Rymer, APL Plasma injection at Saturn Since the arrival of Cassini at Saturn in 2004 we have observed plasma injection phenomena at all local times at distances from the planet of 6 to 11 Rs (Rs = one Saturn radius, ~60300 km). Small scale injections are a ubiquitous feature of Saturn's magnetosphere, they are typically less than 1 Rs in extent and are not apparently organised by local time or longitude. We will introduce the observations at Saturn and describe why Saturn in particular is a great laboratory for the study of this phenomenon. We will discuss the observed properties of the injections (density, temperature, age, speed and pressure balance) and the implications of these small but prolific features to large scale plasma transport. Return to main page