Low energy electron microsignatures at the orbit of Tethys: Cassini MIMI/LEMMS observations

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Read Full Article (file size: 389411 bytes) Cited by GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, VOL. 32, L24107, doi:10.1029/2005GL024084, 2005 Low energy electron microsignatures at the orbit of Tethys: Cassini MIMI/LEMMS observations E. Roussos Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Katlenburg-Lindau, Germany N. Krupp Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Katlenburg-Lindau, Germany J. Woch Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Katlenburg-Lindau, Germany A. Lagg Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Katlenburg-Lindau, Germany G. H. Jones Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Katlenburg-Lindau, Germany C. Paranicas John Hopkins University, Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Maryland, USA D. G. Mitchell John Hopkins University, Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Maryland, USA S. Livi John Hopkins University, Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Maryland, USA S. M. Krimigis John Hopkins University, Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Maryland, USA M. K. Dougherty Blacklett Laboratory, Imperial College, London, UK T. Armstrong Fundamental Technologies Inc., Lawrence, Kansas, USA W.-H. Ip Institute of Astronomy, National Central University, Chung-Li, Taiwan U. Motschmann Institut für Theoretische Physik, TU Braunschweig, Germany Abstract We report on low energy electron microsignature observations by the Low Energy Magnetospheric Measurement System (LEMMS) in the vicinity of Tethys's L-shell, during the first seven orbits of the Cassini mission. Tethys, due to its large size, is the source of strong microsignatures. Shallower absorption features seen are the result of aged Tethys microsignatures rather than the effect of its small Lagrangian moons. Several remarkable observations are also discussed: the displacement of the microsignatures indicates that the drift shell deviation from axisymmetry is greater than previously expected. Midnight to dawn wakes have drifted toward the planet whereas noon to dusk ones have drifted outward, revealing possible magnetospheric convection effects. Double microsignatures seen for the first time, suggest low radial diffusion coefficients and point to dynamic events in the magnetosphere. Received 15 July 2005; accepted 17 November 2005; published 31 December 2005. Index Terms: 2712 Magnetospheric Physics: Electric fields (2411); 2720 Magnetospheric Physics: Energetic particles: trapped; 2731 Magnetospheric Physics: Magnetosphere: outer; 2732 Magnetospheric Physics: Magnetosphere interactions with satellites and rings; 2774 Magnetospheric Physics: Radiation belts. Read Full Article (file size: 389411 bytes) Cited by Citation: Roussos, E., et al. (2005), Low energy electron microsignatures at the orbit of Tethys: Cassini MIMI/LEMMS observations, Geophys. Res. Lett., 32, L24107, doi:10.1029/2005GL024084. Copyright 2005 by the American Geophysical Union.

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