Motion of Trapped Electrons and Protons in Saturn's Inner Magnetosphere
Abstract
A summary is given of basic formulas for the guiding center motion of energetic charged particles trapped in a dipolar magnetic field. These formulas for longitudinal drift rates, latitudinal bounce periods, equatorial gyroradii, and equatorial gyroperiods are then stated in convenient numerical form for electrons and protons as functions of kinetic energy E, magnetic shell parameter L, and equatorial pitch angle a0 for a slightly simplified model of the observed magnetic field of Saturn. To aid in the study of the interaction of charged particles with the rings and inner satellites of Saturn, additional formulas are given for the time interval between successive encounters of charged particles with a satellite in a circular prograde orbit and for the energy of electrons whose longitudinal angular velocity is resonant, or synchronous, with the Keplerian angular velocity of such a satellite.
- Publication:
-
Journal of Geophysical Research
- Pub Date:
- November 1980
- DOI:
- 10.1029/JA085iA11p05831
- Bibcode:
- 1980JGR....85.5831T
- Keywords:
-
- Charged Particles;
- Magnetically Trapped Particles;
- Particle Motion;
- Planetary Magnetospheres;
- Saturn Atmosphere;
- Electrons;
- Particle Interactions;
- Planetary Magnetic Fields;
- Protons;
- SATURN;
- MAGNETOSPHERE;
- MOTION;
- PROTONS;
- ELECTRONS;
- CHARGED PARTICLES;
- MAGNETIC FIELDS;
- MATHEMATICAL MODELS;
- INTERACTIONS;
- SATELLITES;
- DATA;
- RESONANCE;
- ENERGY;
- PARAMETERS