Cassini CAPS‐ELS Observations of Low‐Energy Electron Beams Within Enceladus Mid‐Latitude Flux Tubes
Abstract The electrodynamic interaction between Saturn's magnetosphere and Enceladus accelerates electrons along magnetic field lines. These electrons propagate inside magnetic flux tubes connecting the moon to the giant planet, generating distinctive auroral hiss and auroral footprint signatures, both previously observed by the Cassini spacecraft. In this study, we analyze low‐energy electron measurements made during multiple mid‐latitude crossings of magnetic flux tubes connected to Enceladus' wake. We show that the properties of the observed electrons are consistent with those of electrons inducing Enceladus' auroral hiss, and discuss the physical processes responsible for their pitch‐angle distributions and acceleration. Field‐aligned electron beams have very different properties from those triggering the Enceladus ultraviolet footprint, with a much lower characteristic energy and energy flux. Observations of electron beams resulting from the moon‐magnetosphere interactions up to 30° downstream of the moon reveal that the coupling system between Enceladus and Saturn is significantly more extended than previously anticipated.
Authors
- A. J. Coates (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6185-3125)
- T. Chust (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2078-5824)
- Quentin Nénon (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8130-9832)
- A. M. Rymer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4879-0748)
- Lina Hadid (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8587-0202)
- J. Rabia (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1429-9122)
- Nicolás André (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8017-5676)
- A. Parsec‐Wallis
Institutions
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Swedish Institute of Space Physics (SE)
- Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (FR)
- École Polytechnique (FR)
- Université Paris-Saclay (FR)
- Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (US)
- Sorbonne Université (FR)
- National Higher French Institute of Aeronautics and Space (FR)
- Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Atmospheric Physics (CZ)
- Laboratoire de Physique des Plasmas (FR)
- Laboratoire atmosphères, milieux, observations spatiales (FR)
- Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie (FR)
- University College London (GB)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Geophysical Research Letters
- Published
- 2025-11-22
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1029/2025gl119448
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Astro and Planetary Science
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.15
Funders
- Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales
- Science and Technology Facilities Council