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Alfvén Wing-Like Structures in Titan's Magnetotail During T122-T126 Flybys

Authors :
Kim, Konstantin
Edberg, Niklas J. T.
Wahlund, Jan-Erik
Vigren, Erik
Kim, Konstantin
Edberg, Niklas J. T.
Wahlund, Jan-Erik
Vigren, Erik
Publication Year :
2024

Abstract

In this paper, we study Titan's magnetotail using Cassini data from the T122-T126 flybys. These consecutive flybys had a similar flyby geometry and occurred at similar Saturn magnetospheric conditions, enabling an analysis of the magnetotail's structure. Using measurements from Cassini's magnetometer (MAG) and Radio and Plasma Wave System/Langmuir probe (RPWS/LP) we identify several features consistent with reported findings from earlier flybys, for example, T9, T63 and T75. We find that the so-called ’split’ signature of the magnetotail becomes more prominent at distances of at least 3,260 km (1.3 RT) downstream of Titan. We also identify a specific signature of the sub-alfvenic interaction of Titan with Saturn, the Alfvén wings, which are observed during the T123 and T124 flyby. A coordinate transformation is applied to mitigate variations in the upstream magnetic field, and all the flybys are projected into a new reference frame—aligned to the background magnetic field reference frame (BFA). We show that Titan's magnetotail is confined to a narrow region of around ∼4 RT YBFA. Finally, we analyze the general draping pattern in Titan's magnetotail throughout the TA to T126 flybys.

Details

Database :
OAIster
Notes :
application/pdf, English
Publication Type :
Electronic Resource
Accession number :
edsoai.on1457588127
Document Type :
Electronic Resource
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1029.2023JA032265