Energetic charged particle weathering of Saturns inner satellites

Abstract

We characterize the relative importance of energetic electrons and protons to the weathering of five of the inner satellites of Saturn. To do this, we present data from the Magnetospheric Imaging Instrument on the Cassini spacecraft, some of which is averaged over the whole mission to date. We also compute averaged proton and electron energy spectra relevant to the distances of these inner satellites. Where data are available, we estimate the power per unit area into a satellites surface. For electron energy deposition into satellite leading hemispheres, we find the power per unit area is greatest at Mimas and falls off with distance from Saturn. Using fluxes of 150 MeV protons detected within the sweeping corridors of Mimas and Enceladus, we find the corresponding deposition would be about 2×10 8 and 3.7×10 7 eV/cm 2 s. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved