Models of Plasma in the Enceladus Plume: Grain Effects

Data from Cassini instruments revealed the existence of a strong interaction between Saturn's magnetospheric plasma and fields and the neutral gas and ice grains in the plume of Enceladus. We will review our understanding of the plume environment, particularly the plasma composition and will discuss how the plasma is affected by ice grains and by the surface of Enceladus. The role of grains in determining the composition and dynamics of the plasma remains poorly understood, but we will discuss this topic using model results. The electron spatial and energy distribution was modeled using a two-stream transport code taking into account electron impact collisional processes. Test particle/Monte Carlo simulations are used to understand the ion distribution functions in the plume for different ion species, taking into account interactions with dust grains.