Simulating secondary electron and ion emission from the Cassini spacecraft in Saturn's ionosphere
File(s)Zhang_2023_Planet._Sci._J._4_105.pdf (732.37 KB)
Published version
Author(s)
Desai, Ravindra
Zhang, Zeqi
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The Cassini spacecraft's Grand Finale flybys through Saturn's ionosphere provided unprecedented insight into the composition and dynamics of the gas giant's upper atmosphere and a novel and complex spacecraft-plasma interaction. In this article, we further study Cassini's interaction with Saturn's ionosphere using three dimensional Particle-in-Cell simulations. We focus on understanding how electrons and ions, emitted from spacecraft surfaces due to the high-velocity impact of atmospheric water molecules, could have affected the spacecraft potential and low-energy plasma measurements. The simulations show emitted electrons extend upstream along the magnetic field and, for sufficiently high emission rates, charge the spacecraft to positive potentials. The lack of accurate emission rates and characteristics, however, makes differentiation between the prominence of secondary electron emission and ionospheric charged dust populations, which induce similar charging effects, difficult for Cassini. These results provide further context for Cassini's final measurements and highlight the need for future laboratory studies to support high-velocity flyby missions through planetary and cometary ionospheres.
Date Issued
2023-06-13
Date Acceptance
2023-05-22
Citation
The Planetary Science Journal, 2023, 4 (6)
ISSN
2632-3338
Publisher
IOP Publishing
Journal / Book Title
The Planetary Science Journal
Volume
4
Issue
6
Copyright Statement
© 2023. The Author(s). Published by the American Astronomical Society. Original content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.
License URL
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
ARTN 105