The Ionosphere of Titan
Abstract
Titan has an atmosphere consisting mainly of molecular nitrogen and methane. Solar extreme ultraviolet and x-ray radiation and energetic electrons from Saturn's magnetosphere interact with the upper atmosphere producing an ionosphere. We will review our current understanding of Titan's ionosphere and will emphasize the energy deposition in the atmosphere from solar ionizing radiation and from magnetospheric electrons. We will present results from a two-dimensional suprathermal electron model that includes Auger electrons produced by K-shell ionization processes. We will compare our results for a Titan ionosphere at solar maximum conditions that correspond to Voyager encounter with results for solar minimum conditions that correspond to the expected arrival of Cassini orbiter.
- Publication:
-
AGU Spring Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- May 2004
- Bibcode:
- 2004AGUSMSM51B..01C
- Keywords:
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- 2419 Ion chemistry and composition (0335);
- 2431 Ionosphere/magnetosphere interactions (2736);
- 2447 Modeling and forecasting;
- 6280 Saturnian satellites