Goniopolarimetric study of the revolution 29 perikrone using the Cassini Radio and Plasma Wave Science instrument high‐frequency radio receiver

Abstract

We present goniopolarimetric (also known as direction finding) results of the Saturn kilometric radiation (SKR), using the Cassini Radio and Plasma Wave Science instrument high‐frequency radio receiver data. Tools to retrieve the characteristics of the SKR sources have been developed that allow us to measure their 3‐D location and beaming angle relative to the magnetic field in the source and, thus, to deduce the location of the footprints of the active magnetic field lines. We present results from these analyses on SKR observed during the revolution 29 perikrone (25–26 September 2006) with a relatively high orbital inclination. These results provide for the first time the observed beaming angle, the invariant latitude, and the local time of the SKR sources. We provide evidence that the SKR is mainly emitted in the right‐hand extraordinary (R‐X) mode and marginally in the left‐hand ordinary (L‐O) mode. We observe the footprint of the active magnetic field lines in the ∼70° to ∼80° northern and southern latitudinal range and in the 0400 to 1600 local time range. The northern sources are observed at slightly higher latitude than southern sources. The location matches that of the UV and IR aurorae. Duskside and nightside sources are also detected.