Titan's hydrogen torus

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (21) References (24) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS Titan's hydrogen torus Smyth, W. H. Abstract A model of Titan's hydrogen torus, capable of describing its time evolution under the influence of the gravitational fields of both the satellite and the planet, is presented. Estimated lifetimes for hydrogen atoms near Titan's orbit of the order of 10 to the 7th s, based on recent Pioneer 11 measurements, suggest that the torus completely encircles Saturn and is angularly unsymmetric, having an enhanced gas density near the satellite. New model calculations confirm this and provide an explanation for the torus detected by the Copernicus satellite and the UV instrument of Pioneer 11. Agreement between calculated and observed Lyman alpha intensities suggests a hydrogen escape flux between 1 x 10 to the 9th/sq cm-s and 3 x 10 to the 9th/sq cm-s should be operative at Titan. This produces a torus containing some 10 to the 34th hydrogen atoms. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: May 1981 DOI: 10.1086/158928 Bibcode: 1981ApJ...246..344S Keywords: Atmospheric Models; Earth Magnetosphere; Hydrogen Clouds; Planetary Gravitation; Satellite Atmospheres; Saturn Atmosphere; Titan; Cosmic Plasma; Gas Density; Hydrogen Atoms; Lyman Alpha Radiation; Oao 3; Pioneer 11 Space Probe; Solar Wind; Toruses; COPERNICUS SATELLITE; UTRAVIOLET; WAVELENGTHS; SATURN; SATELLITES; TITAN; HYDROGEN; TORUSES; MODELS; GAS CLOUDS; GRAVITATIONAL FIELDS; COLLISIONS; IONIZATION; IMPACTS; SOLAR WINDS; MAGNETOSPHERE; FLUX; PLASMAS; PIONEER 11; LYMAN-ALPHA RADIATION; ASYMMETRY; SHAPE; DATA; EVOLUTION; EXOSPHERE; VELOCITY; REVIEW; DIAGRAMS; Lunar and Planetary Exploration; Saturn full text sources ADS |