Hybrid simulation of Titan's interaction with the supersonic solar wind during Cassini's T96 flyby

Abstract

By applying a hybrid (kinetic ions and fluid electrons) simulation code, we study the plasma environment of Saturn's largest moon Titan during Cassini's T96 flyby on 1 December 2013. The T96 encounter marks the only observed event of the entire Cassini mission where Titan was located in the supersonic solar wind in front of Saturn's bow shock. Our simulations can quantitatively reproduce the key features of Cassini magnetic field and electron density observations during this encounter. We demonstrate that the large-scale features of Titan's induced magnetosphere during T96 can be described in terms of a steady state interaction with a high-pressure solar wind flow. About 40 min before the encounter, Cassini observed a rotation of the incident solar wind magnetic field by almost 90°. We provide strong evidence that this rotation left a bundle of fossilized magnetic field lines in Titan's ionosphere that was subsequently detected by the spacecraft.Fil: Feyerabend, Moritz. Georgia Institute Of Techology; Estados UnidosFil: Simon, Sven. Georgia Institute Of Techology; Estados UnidosFil: Neubauer, Fritz M.. Universitat Zu Köln; AlemaniaFil: Motschmann, Uwe. Deutsches Zentrum Fur Luft- Und Raumfahrt; Alemania. Technische Universitat Braunschweig; AlemaniaFil: Bertucci, Cesar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciónes Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Astronomía y Física del Espacio. - Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Astronomía y Física del Espacio; ArgentinaFil: Edberg, Niklas J. T.. Instiutet For Rymdfysik; SueciaFil: Hospodarsky, George B.. University Of Iowa; Estados UnidosFil: Kurth, William S.. University Of Iowa; Estados Unido