Detached plasma in Saturn's front side magnetosphere

Abstract

We discuss plasma observations in the outer front side Saturnian magnetosphere which indicate the existence of dense flux tubes outside the plasma sheet. We suggest that flux tubes are detached from the plasma sheet by a centifugally driven flute instability. The same instability leads to a dispersal of Titan‐injected plasma. It is shown that the detached flux tubes will probably break open as they convect into the nightside magnetotail and lose their content in form of a planetary wind.