Quasi-Periodic Whistler Mode Emissions in Saturn's Inner Magnetosphere

Abstract

The Cassini Radio and Plasma Wave Science (RPWS) instrument often detects at Saturn a series of quasi-periodic (QP) whistler mode emissions that rise in frequency and repeat every few to about ten minutes. These QP emissions are detected about 5% of the time when Cassini is within ~5.5 Rs of Saturn and are primarily observed near the magnetic equator. They are usually detected in the frequency range of about 1 to 3 kHz, and appear to be related to electrons with energies of a few keV. Their spectral characteristics are very similar to the quasi-periodic whistler mode emissions detected in Earth’s magnetosphere. However, it is unclear if the same type of source generation can explain the Earth and Saturn QP emissions.

Gökçin Çınar

Assistant Professor of Aerospace Engineering