Enceladus' Plasma Interaction With Saturn's Magnetosphere

We study the local plasma interaction of Enceladus and it's neutral gas plume with the Saturnian magnetosphere by using a 3D MHD model. Thereby, we investigate how the neutral gas environment around Enceladus modifies the magnetospheric plasma flow and magnetic field environment around Enceladus. In our model, we use an asymmetric gas cloud with maximum density around Enceladus south pole. Through charge exchange and ionization in the gas cloud the plasma flow is slowed and diverted. We compare our model results to the Cassini spacecraft measurements and provide estimates of the total mass loading rate in the vicinity of Enceladus.