Cassini's floating potential in Titan's ionosphere: 3-D particle-in-cell simulations
File(s)2310.02496v1.pdf (564.41 KB)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Zhang, Zeqi
Desai, Ravindra
Shebanits, Oleg
Miyake, Yohei
Usui, Hide
Type
Conference Paper
Abstract
Accurate determination of Cassini’s spacecraft potential in Titan’s ionosphere is important for interpreting measurements by its low energy plasma instruments. Estimates of the floating potential varied significantly, however, between the various different plasma instruments. In this study we utilize 3-D particle-in-cell simulations to understand the key features of Cassini’s plasma interaction in Titan’s ionosphere. The spacecraft is observed to charge to negative potentials for all scenarios considered, and close agreement is found between the current onto the simulated Langmuir Probe and that observed in Titan’s ionosphere. These simulations are therefore shown to provide a viable technique for modeling spacecraft interacting with Titan’s dusty ionosphere.
Date Issued
2023-10-03
Date Acceptance
2023-08-01
Citation
2023 XXXVth General Assembly and Scientific Symposium of the International Union of Radio Science (URSI GASS), 2023, pp.1-4
Publisher
IEEE
Start Page
1
End Page
4
Journal / Book Title
2023 XXXVth General Assembly and Scientific Symposium of the International Union of Radio Science (URSI GASS)
Identifier
http://arxiv.org/abs/2310.02496v1
Source
URSI GASS 2023
Subjects
astro-ph.EP
astro-ph.IM
physics.plasm-ph
physics.space-ph
physics.space-ph
Notes
4 pages, 4 figures, 1 table, accepted for publication at URSI General Assembly and Scientific Symposium 2023, Sapporo, Japan
Publication Status
Published
Start Date
2023-08-19
Finish Date
2023-08-26
Coverage Spatial
Sapporo, Japan