Plasma Dynamics and Structure of Titan's Induced Magnetosphere From Wave, Magnetic Field, and Plasma Measurements

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Abstract
In this study, we combine Cassini fields and particle observations to investigate Titan's induced magnetosphere from the TA to T82 flybys, including flybys from the Cassini prime, equinox, and part of the solstice mission, to investigate the average location and the shape of Titan's induced magnetosphere. Although earlier studies have provided valuable information on Titan's induced magnetosphere, they were largely based on separate analyses of fields and particle data. We provide an integrated map of electron density and temperature in Titan's near plasma environment to outline the external boundary of the induced magnetosphere. We identify a dense ionospheric region and an extended plasma wake with electron densities ranging between and c. In addition, we systematize the spatial distribution of pick‐up ions at Titan with respect to the background convective electric field. We indicate that pickup ions are found in the positive hemisphere of the Kronian plasma convective electric field. The mass of the observed pickup corresponds to methane group ions, ions as well as protons and molecular hydrogen ions. The Kronian background electric field progressively accelerates these ions, and we estimate its intensity by reconstructing the radial energy gain of this population in response to the convective electric field. We find the estimated from the pickup ions electric field values within 0.05 mV and 1.92 mV range, which is consistent with an estimate of 0.61 mV deduced from computation.
Funding Information
  • Vetenskapsrådet (2020‐03962)
  • National Aeronautics and Space Administration (80GSFC24M0006)
  • Research Ireland (22/PATH‐S/10757)
  • Science and Technology Facilities Council (ST/W001004/1)

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