Perpendicular Flow Separation in a Magnetized Counterstreaming Plasma: Application to the Dust Plume of Enceladus
Abstract
The interaction of charged dust with a magnetized flowing plasma can be treated with a multi-fluid MHD simulation. We examine the interaction of the corotating Saturnian plasma with the charged-dust plume of Enceladus. The model produces plasma deceleration with both positively and negatively charged dust. In addition, the negatively charged dust causes plasma deflection in the direction of the motional electric field and a kink in the magnetic field extending in the same direction. Positively charged dust causes the opposite plasma deflection and the opposite magnetic field bending. These results agree with the magnetic signatures observed on Cassini plume flybys. The code has been tested on both subsonic and supersonic interactions and is applicable to solar wind dust pickup, ICME interactions with dust trails, cometary plasma pickup, active plasma releases such as the AMPTE barium release as well as the Enceladus plume.
- Publication:
-
EPSC-DPS Joint Meeting 2011
- Pub Date:
- October 2011
- Bibcode:
- 2011epsc.conf...99J