Cassini Plasma Measurements: Recent Insights on the Configuration and Dynamics of Saturn’s Magnetosphere

Abstract:

Cassini has provided a wealth of information about the configuration and dynamics of Saturn’s magnetosphere, including sources, transport processes, acceleration processes, and loss processes. Recent analyses of plasma and related observations have further expanded our understanding of the nature and significance of a number of these key magnetospheric elements. We will review recent work that provides new insights into Saturn’s magnetospheric processes, with particular emphasis on the interchange instability in the inner magnetosphere and reconnection in the magnetotail.