SH31C-2433
Quasi-thermal noise observed by CASSINI during the first flyby of Venus
Wednesday, 16 December 2015
Poster Hall (Moscone South)
Mihailo Martinović1, Arnaud Zaslavsky1, Milan Maksimovic2, Stevo Šegan3 and Marek Svetlik4, (1)Paris Observatory Meudon, Meudon, France, (2)CNRS, Paris Cedex 16, France, (3)Faculty of Mathematics, University of Belgrade, Department of Astronomy, Belgrade, Serbia, (4)Faculty of Mathematics, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
Abstract:
Quasi-thermal noise (QTN) spectroscopy is an accurate technique for in situ measurements of electron density and temperature in space plasmas. The QTN spectrum has a characteristic noise peak just above the plasma frequency produced by electron quasi-thermal fluctuations, which allows a very accurate measurement of the electron density. In this work, we analyze the period during the first CASSINI flyby of Venus where the thermal noise peak was visible by CASSINI/RPWS instrument. Development of the plasma parameters in the ionosphere of Venus during the closest approach (up to 284 km above the planet surface), as well as characteristics of velocity distribution function of electrons are evaluated using this method.
