Narrowband Electromagnetic Emissions from Saturn's Magnetosphere.
Abstract
During the Voyager 1 flyby of Saturn a series of narrowband electromagnetic emissions were detected by the plasma wave instrument coming from the inner region of the magnetosphere in the frequency range from 3 to 30 kHz. These emissions have many close similarities to continuum radiation detected in the Earth's magnetosphere and narrowband kilometric radiation (nKOM) detected in the Jovian magnetosphere. Based on the close similarity to the terrestrial continuum radiation the Saturn narrowband emissions are interpreted as being generated by mode conversion from intense electrostatic waves at half-integral harmonics of the electron gyrofrequency. The observed frequency spacing suggests that the emissions are being generated near the moons Tethys, Dione and Rhea, probably in regions of large plasma density gradients associated with boundaries of the plasma sheet. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 21, 1981
- Accession Number
- ADA101686
Entities
People
- Donald A. Gurnett
- F. L. Scarf
- William S. Kurth
Organizations
- University of Iowa