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Particle-in-cell simulations of the Cassini spacecraft's interaction with Saturn's ionosphere during the Grand Finale
Imperial Coll London, Blackett Lab, London SW7 2BW, England..
Imperial Coll London, Blackett Lab, London SW7 2BW, England..
Kobe Univ, Educ Ctr Computat Sci & Engn, Kobe, Hyogo 6578501, Japan..
Kobe Univ, Educ Ctr Computat Sci & Engn, Kobe, Hyogo 6578501, Japan..
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2021 (English)In: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, ISSN 0035-8711, E-ISSN 1365-2966, Vol. 504, no 1, p. 964-973Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

A surprising and unexpected phenomenon observed during Cassini's Grand Finale was the spacecraft charging to positive potentials in Saturn's ionosphere. Here, the ionospheric plasma was depleted of free electrons with negatively charged ions and dust accumulating up to over 95 per cent of the negative charge density. To further understand the spacecraft-plasma interaction, we perform a three-dimensional Particle-In-Cell study of a model Cassini spacecraft immersed in plasma representative of Saturn's ionosphere. The simulations reveal complex interaction features such as electron wings and a highly structured wake containing spacecraft-scale vortices. The results show how a large negative ion concentration combined with a large negative to positive ion mass ratio is able to drive the spacecraft to the observed positive potentials. Despite the high electron depletions, the electron properties are found as a significant controlling factor for the spacecraft potential together with the magnetic field orientation which induces a potential gradient directed across Cassini's asymmetric body. This study reveals the global spacecraft interaction experienced by Cassini during the Grand Finale and how this is influenced by the unexpected negative ion and dust populations.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Oxford University Press (OUP) Oxford University Press, 2021. Vol. 504, no 1, p. 964-973
Keywords [en]
plasmas, space vehicles, planets and satellites: atmospheres, planets and satellites: composition, planets and satellites: individual: Saturn
National Category
Fusion, Plasma and Space Physics
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-447917DOI: 10.1093/mnras/stab750ISI: 000656137100070OAI: oai:DiVA.org:uu-447917DiVA, id: diva2:1590385
Available from: 2021-09-02 Created: 2021-09-02 Last updated: 2024-01-15Bibliographically approved

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Shebanits, Oleg

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