On the amount of heavy molecular ions in Titan’s ionosphere
| Title: | On the amount of heavy molecular ions in Titan’s ionosphere |
|---|---|
| Authors: | J.-E Wahlund; M Galand; I Müller-Wodarg; J Cui; R V Yelle; F J Crary; K Mandt; B Magee; J H Waite Jr; D T Young; A J Coates; P Garnier; K Ågren; M Andr; A I Eriksson; T E Cravens; V Vuitton; D A Gurnett; W S Kurth |
| Contributors: | The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives |
| Source: | http://www.lpl.arizona.edu/%7Eyelle/eprints/Wahlund09a.pdf. |
| Publication Year: | 2009 |
| Collection: | CiteSeerX |
| Description: | a b s t r a c t We present observational evidence that the ionosphere of Titan below an altitude of 1150 km is a significant source of heavy (4100 amu) molecular organic species. This study is based on measurements by five instruments (RPWS/LP, RPWS/E, INMS, CAPS/ELS, CAPS/IBS) onboard the Cassini spacecraft during three flybys (T17, T18, T32) of Titan. The ionospheric peaks encountered at altitudes of 950-1300 km had densities in the range 900-3000 cm À3 . Below these peaks the number densities of heavy positively charged ions reached 100-2000 cm À3 and approached 50-70% of the total ionospheric density with an increasing trend toward lowest measured altitudes. Simultaneously measured negatively charged ion densities were in the range 50-150 cm À3 . These results imply that $10 5 -10 6 heavy positively charged ions/m 3 /s are continuously recombining into heavy neutrals and supply the atmosphere of Titan. The ionosphere may in this way produce 0.1-1 Mt/yr of heavy organic compounds and is therefore a sizable source for aerosol formation. We also predict that Titan's ionosphere is dominated by heavy (4100 amu) molecular ions below 950 km. |
| Document Type: | text |
| File Description: | application/pdf |
| Language: | English |
| Relation: | http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.1060.5355; http://www.lpl.arizona.edu/%7Eyelle/eprints/Wahlund09a.pdf |
| Availability: | http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.1060.5355; http://www.lpl.arizona.edu/%7Eyelle/eprints/Wahlund09a.pdf |
| Rights: | Metadata may be used without restrictions as long as the oai identifier remains attached to it. |
| Accession Number: | edsbas.173FF954 |
| Database: | BASE |