Identifying Fast Plasma Injections in Data From Saturn

Abstract In Paranicas et al. (2020), https://doi.org/10.1029/2020ja028299 , we reported on a method to estimate the inflow speed of interchange injections in Saturn's magnetosphere. The procedure relies on phase space density conservation and mapping and an estimate of the size of the flux decrease along one edge of the injection. Here we describe modifications to the method. We have applied our new technique to an existing list of injections, presenting only those injections with inflow speeds greater than 20 km/s, defined as “fast” injections here. We find at least 20% of the events from the list can be considered fast. Faster injections are more effective in energizing charged particles as the injection moves planetward. This is because shorter transit time limits the number of particles that can drift longitudinally out of the injection.

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Publication Details

Journal
Geophysical Research Letters
Published
2025-09-09
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1029/2025gl117837
Primary Topic
Ionosphere and magnetosphere dynamics
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Identifying Fast Plasma Injections in Data From Saturn

C. Paranicas, P. Kollmann, T. Nordheim, N. Achilleos et al.
Geophysical Research Letters
Ionosphere and magnetosphere dynamics
article

Identifying Fast Plasma Injections in Data From Saturn

C. Paranicas, P. Kollmann, T. Nordheim, N. Achilleos, N. Krupp, Leonardo Regoli, S. Wing, P. Guio, S. K. Vines, J. Kinrade, E. Roussos, G. Clark, Robert C. Allen
article en

Abstract

Abstract In Paranicas et al. (2020), https://doi.org/10.1029/2020ja028299 , we reported on a method to estimate the inflow speed of interchange injections in Saturn's magnetosphere. The procedure relies on phase space density conservation and mapping and an estimate of the size of the flux decrease along one edge of the injection. Here we describe modifications to the method. We have applied our new technique to an existing list of injections, presenting only those injections with inflow speeds greater than 20 km/s, defined as “fast” injections here. We find at least 20% of the events from the list can be considered fast. Faster injections are more effective in energizing charged particles as the injection moves planetward. This is because shorter transit time limits the number of particles that can drift longitudinally out of the injection.

Geophysical Research LettersVol. 52(17)
Southwest Research Institute (US), Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research (DE), Nephrologisches Zentrum Goettingen (DE), The London College (GB), Allentown Public Library (US), University College London (GB), Lancaster University (GB), UiT The Arctic University of Norway (NO)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, UK Research and Innovation, Nuclear Safety and Security Commission, Science and Technology Facilities Council
Openalex Percentile: Top 83%
Ionosphere and magnetosphere dynamics
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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