Physics Commons^™

Ion Cyclotron Waves In The Saturnian Magnetosphere Associated With Cassini's Engine Exhaust, C. T. Russell, J. S. Leisner, K. K. Khurana, M. K. Dougherty, X. Blanco-Cano, Jane L. Fox

Physics Faculty Publications

Five hours after the orbit insertion maneuver that placed Cassini into orbit about Saturn, a long (90 minute) burst of ion cyclotron waves were seen, very different than any waves on the inbound leg of the orbit or on succeeding orbits. The ion cyclotron waves were left-hand elliptically polarized and propagating at a moderately large angle to the local magnetic field. The waves had a noticeable compressional component consistent with their off angle propagation. The frequency band of the signals was moderately broad and consistent with the singly ionized components of the engine exhaust gases: CO₂, N_{2 …}