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The flux and source of energetic protons in Saturn's inner magnetosphereThe flux of energetic protons in Saturn's inner magnetosphere was observed in two channels from 48 to 63 and 63 to 160 MeV. Absorption features due to the G ring and the satellites Enceladus and Mimas were easily identifiable. The flux observed in the absorption slot of Mimas can be maintained by the decay of a cosmic ray albedo neutron flux of 0.007/sq cm/s/sr. This flux is entirely consistent with calculations of the neutron flux produced by galactic cosmic ray interactions with the rings of Saturn. The omnidirectional proton flux of 0.0082/sq cm/s at 2.734 R sub s requires a residence time of 30 years. Both the residence time and the energy spectrum are comparable to those found in the inner radiation belt of the Earth. The angular distribution is nearly isotropic in the Mimas slot and beyond 4R sub s. Otherwise the pitch angle distribution is pancake and is approximated by sin(n)theta with n in the range 2 to 7. This distribution is consistent with an isotropic neutron source in the ring plane.
Document ID
19830013813
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Preprint (Draft being sent to journal)
Authors
Schardt, A. W. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Mcdonald, F. B. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
September 4, 2013
Publication Date
December 1, 1982
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Exploration
Report/Patent Number
NASA-TM-84938
NAS 1.15:84938
Accession Number
83N22084
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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