Rhea and Dione Exospheric Dynamics and Magnetospheric Current Systems Revealed by Cassini

Abstract:

Cassini's close Rhea and Dione flybys have provided the most detailed in situ field, plasma, and neutral gas measurements ever acquired at a large icy satellite, and have transformed understanding of the magnetospheric interaction of plasma absorbing bodies. This talk will review four key discoveries resulting from Cassini's observations: (1) Rhea and Dione O2 and CO2 [Teolis et al 2010; Simon et al 2011; Tokar et al 2012] exospheres with drastic seasonal variability [Teolis & Waite, submitted] (2) possible refractory lag material which suppresses surface sputtering two orders of magnitude below expectations from laboratory experiments [Teolis & Waite, submitted], (3) a heretofore unknown thermoelectric type flux tube current system, formed to mantain current balance on Rhea's surface [Teolis et al 2014], and (4) secondary Alfvenic induction currents [Simon et al 2012; Khurana et al 2012] stimulated as the diamagnetic and flux tube currents perturb the ambient plasma flow. The findings will be extrapolated to other possible solar system moon-plasma interaction enviroments including Jupiter's icy satellites.