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Final published version
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Cassini plasma observations of Saturn's magnetospheric cusp
AU - Jasinski, J. M.
AU - Arridge, Christopher Stephen
AU - Coates, A. J.
AU - Jones, Geraint H.
AU - Sergis, Nick
AU - Thomsen, M. F.
AU - Reisenfeld, Dan
AU - Krupp, Norbert
AU - Waite, J. H.
PY - 2016/12
Y1 - 2016/12
N2 - The magnetospheric cusp is a funnel-shaped region where shocked solar wind plasma is able to enter the high latitude magnetosphere via the process of magnetic reconnection. The plasma observations include various cusp signatures such as ion energy dispersions as well as diamagnetic effects. We present an overview analysis of the cusp plasma observations at the Saturnian magnetosphere from the Cassini spacecraft era. A comparison of the observations is made as well as classification into groups due to varying characteristics. The locations of the reconnection site are calculated and shown to vary along the subsolar magnetopause. We show the first in situ evidence for lobe reconnection that occurred at nearly the same time as dayside reconnection for one of the cusp crossings. Evidence for 'bursty' and more 'continous' reconnection signatures are observed in different cusp events. The events are compared to solar wind propagation models and it is shown that magnetic reconnection and plasma injection into the cusp can occur for a variety of upstream conditions. These are important results because they show that Saturn's magnetospheric interaction with the solar wind and the resulting cusp signatures are dynamic, and that plasma injection in the cusp occurs due to a variety of solar wind conditions. Furthermore, reconnection can proceed at a variety of locations along the magnetopause.
AB - The magnetospheric cusp is a funnel-shaped region where shocked solar wind plasma is able to enter the high latitude magnetosphere via the process of magnetic reconnection. The plasma observations include various cusp signatures such as ion energy dispersions as well as diamagnetic effects. We present an overview analysis of the cusp plasma observations at the Saturnian magnetosphere from the Cassini spacecraft era. A comparison of the observations is made as well as classification into groups due to varying characteristics. The locations of the reconnection site are calculated and shown to vary along the subsolar magnetopause. We show the first in situ evidence for lobe reconnection that occurred at nearly the same time as dayside reconnection for one of the cusp crossings. Evidence for 'bursty' and more 'continous' reconnection signatures are observed in different cusp events. The events are compared to solar wind propagation models and it is shown that magnetic reconnection and plasma injection into the cusp can occur for a variety of upstream conditions. These are important results because they show that Saturn's magnetospheric interaction with the solar wind and the resulting cusp signatures are dynamic, and that plasma injection in the cusp occurs due to a variety of solar wind conditions. Furthermore, reconnection can proceed at a variety of locations along the magnetopause.
KW - cusp
KW - magnetosphere
KW - Cassini
KW - reconnection
KW - dispersion
KW - Saturn
U2 - 10.1002/2016JA023310
DO - 10.1002/2016JA023310
M3 - Journal article
VL - 121
SP - 12047
EP - 12067
JO - Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
JF - Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
SN - 2169-9402
IS - 12
ER -