Abstract
AbstractElectric field antennas are capable of detecting dust impacts in different space environment. We analyze the dust impact signals detected by the Cassini Radio and Plasma Wave Science instrument at different locations around Saturn and compare them with dust impact signals simulated in laboratory conditions and numerically. The spacecraft potential, the size, and capacitance of the impacted element and ambient plasma have a strong effect on the amplitude and the shape of impact signals, providing important clues to understanding the signal generation mechanism. The voltage signal on the antenna is due to the separation of the impact generated charges, which occurs as electrons and ions can either escape (at different speeds) or be collected by the impacted element depending on the spacecraft potential.
Highlights
We analyze the dust impact signals detected by the Cassini Radio and Plasma Wave Science instrument at different locations around Saturn and compare them with dust impact signals simulated in laboratory conditions and numerically
Dust impact signals detected by the wave instruments are induced by the impact plasma cloud, which is generated by thermal ionization after the impactor and more target material are vaporized at the impact site
Laboratory simulations of dust impact signals detected in space helped us better understand the generation of such signals and how they can be picked up by electric field antennas
Summary
Electric field antennas onboard spacecraft have been used to detect dust impacts in space for several decades (Aubier et al, 1983; Gurnett et al, 1983; Gurnett et al, 1987; Gurnett et al, 1991; Kelley et al, 2012; Kurth et al, 2006; Meyer‐Vernet et al, 1996; Meyer‐Vernet et al, 2009; Pedersen et al, 1991; Tsintikidis et al, 1994; Tsintikidis et al, 1995; Wang et al, 2006). The Cassini Radio and Plasma Wave Science (RPWS) instrument (Gurnett et al, 2004) detected dust impact signals in different regions of Saturn's magnetosphere (Ye et al, 2014; Ye, Gurnett, et al, 2016; Ye, Kurth, Hospodarsky, Persoon, Gurnett, et al, 2018; Ye, Kurth, Hospodarsky, Persoon, Sulaiman, et al, 2018). The variations in the shapes of these signals reflect the changes in plasma conditions in these regions, spacecraft potential, instrument operating mode, and impact location. We analyze the dust impact waveforms detected in space by Cassini and in recent laboratory simulations and compare them to numerical simulations, which results in a consistent and relatively simple physical picture of the signal generation process
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