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Saturn’s Radio Emissions and their Relation to Magnetospheric Dynamics (invited)

    C. M. Jackman

Planetary Radio Emissions VII, pp. 1-152, 2011/12/28

Proceedings of the 7th International Workshop on Planetary, Solar and Heliospheric Radio Emissions held at Graz, Austria, September 15–17, 2010

doi: 10.1553/PRE7s1

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doi:10.1553/PRE7s1


Abstract

With the arrival of the Cassini spacecraft at Saturn in July 2004, there have been quasi-continuous observations of Saturn Kilometric Radiation (SKR) emissions. In this paper we review the response of these emissions to dynamics in Saturn’s magnetosphere, driven by factors internal and external to the system. We begin by reviewing solar wind data upstream of Saturn and discuss the link between solar wind compressions and dynamics in Saturn’s magnetosphere, evidenced by intensifications and occasional phase changes in the SKR emission. We then review the link between magnetotail reconnection and planetary radio emissions. We begin in the well-sampled magnetotail of Earth and then move to Saturn where exploration of the nightside magnetosphere has revealed evidence of plasmoid-like magnetic structures and other phenomena indicative of the kronian equivalent of terrestrial substorms. In general, there is a good correlation between the timing of reconnection events and enhancements in the SKR emission, coupled with extension of the emission to lower frequencies. We interpret this as growth of the radio source region to higher altitudes along the field lines, stimulated by increased precipitation of energetic electrons into the auroral zones following reconnection. We also comment on the observation that the majority of reconnection events occur at SKR phases where the SKR power would be expected to be rising with time, indicating that reconnection is most likely to occur at a preferred phase. We conclude with a summary of the current knowledge of the link between Saturn’s magnetospheric dynamics and SKR emissions, and list a number of open questions to be addressed in the future.