B. Cecconi

Modulation of Saturn’s radio clock by solar wind speed

The internal rotation rates of the giant planets can be estimated by cloud motions, but such an approach is not very precise because absolute wind speeds are not known a priori and depend on latitude: periodicities in the radio emissions, thought to be tied to the internal planetary magnetic field, are used instead. Saturn, despite an apparently axisymmetric magnetic field, emits kilometre-wavelength (radio) photons from auroral sources. This emission is modulated at a period initially identified as 10 h 39 min 24 ± 7 s, and this has been adopted as Saturn’s rotation period. Subsequent observations, however, revealed that this period varies by ±6 min on a timescale of several months to years. Here we report that the kilometric radiation period varies systematically by ±1% with a characteristic timescale of 20–30 days. Here we show that these fluctuations are correlated with solar wind speed at Saturn, meaning that Saturn’s radio clock is controlled, at least in part, by conditions external to the planet’s magnetosphere. No correlation is found with the solar wind density, dynamic pressure or magnetic field; the solar wind speed therefore has a special function. We also show that the long-term fluctuations are simply an average of the short-term ones, and therefore the long-term variations are probably also driven by changes in the solar wind.

Properties of Saturn kilometric radiation measured within its source region

On 17 October 2008, the Cassini spacecraft crossed the southern sources of Saturn kilometric radiation (SKR), while flying along high-latitude nightside magnetic field lines. In situ measurements allowed us to characterize for the first time the source region of an extra-terrestrial auroral radio emission. Using radio, magnetic field and particle observations, we show that SKR sources are surrounded by a hot tenuous plasma, in a region of upward field-aligned currents. Magnetic field lines supporting radio sources map a continuous, high-latitude and spiral-shaped auroral oval observed on the dawnside, consistent with enhanced auroral activity. Investigating the Cyclotron Maser Instability (CMI) as a mechanism responsible for SKR generation, we find that observed cutoff frequencies are consistent with radio waves amplified perpendicular to the magnetic field by hot (6 to 9 keV) resonant electrons, measured locally.

Variation of Saturn's UV aurora with SKR phase

It is well known that a wide range of kronian magnetospheric phenomena, including the Saturn kilometric radiation (SKR), exhibit oscillations near the planetary rotation period. However, although the SKR is believed to be generated by unstable auroral electrons, no connection has been established to date between diurnal SKR modulations and UV auroral power. We use an empirical SKR phase determined from Cassini observations to order the ‘quiet time’ total emitted UV auroral power as observed by the Hubble Space Telescope in programs during the interval 2005–2009. Our results indicate that both the northern and southern UV powers are dependent on SKR phase, varying diurnally by factors of ∼3. We also show that the UV variation originates principally from the morning half of the oval, consistent with previous observations of the SKR sources.

Observation of similar radio signatures at Saturn and Jupiter: Implications for the magnetospheric dynamics

We report on radio signatures observed at Saturn by the Cassini RPWS experiment which are strikingly similar to the Jovian “energetic events” observed by Galileo. They consist of sudden intensifications of the auroral radio emission (SKR) followed by the detection of a periodic narrowband radiation which most likely originates from Saturns plasma disk. About ten “events” have been observed in 2006, showing on average temporal scales ∼3 times longer than their Jovian counterparts. We analyze the conditions of generation and the visibility of the narrowband radiation and conclude that the Kronian “events” are most likely associated with plasma evacuation from the disk. These observations provide new insights on the role of internal energy releases in Saturns magnetosphere, known from other observations to be mainly driven by the solar wind.

Auroral electron distributions within and close to the Saturn kilometric radiation source region

On 17 October 2008, Cassini observed for the first time the electron populations associated with the crossing of a Saturn kilometric radiation source region and its surroundings. These observations allow for the first time the constraint and quantification of the high-latitude acceleration processes, the current systems, and the origin of the low-frequency electromagnetic waves. Enhanced fluxes of field-aligned energetic electrons were measured by the Cassini electron plasma spectrometer in conjunction with unusual intense field-aligned current systems identified using the magnetometer instrument. In the region where downward field-aligned currents were measured, electron data show evidence of two types of upward accelerated electron beams: a broadband energetic (1-100 keV) electron population that is observed throughout the region and a narrow-banded (0.1-1 keV) electron population that is observed sporadically. In the regions where the magnetic field signatures showed evidence for upward field-aligned currents, we observe electron loss cone distributions and some evidence of shell-like distributions. Such nonthermal electron populations are commonly known as a potential free energy source to drive plasma instabilities. In the downward current region, the low-energy and energetic beams are likely the source of the very low frequency emissions. In the upward current region, the shell distribution is identified as a potential source for Saturn kilometric radiation generation via the cyclotron maser instability.

Io‐Jupiter decametric arcs observed by Juno/Waves compared to ExPRES simulations

We compare observations from the Juno/Waves radio experiment with simulations of radio « arcs » in the time-frequency plane resulting from the Io-Jupiter interaction, performed with the ExPRES code. We identify the hemisphere of origin of the observed arcs directly from simulations, and confirm this identification through comparison with Juno, Nancay and Wind observations. The occurrence and shape of observed arcs are well modeled, at low latitudes with their usual shapes as seen from Earth, as well as at high latitudes with longer, bowl-shaped, arcs observed for the first time. Predicted emission is actually observed only when the radio beaming angle θ = (k,B) ≥ 70° ± 5°, providing new constraints on the generation of the decameter emission by the Cyclotron Maser Instability. Further improvements of ExPRES are outlined, that will then be applied to Juno and Earth-based observations of radio emissions induced by other Galilean satellites or associated to the main auroral oval.

VESPA: A community-driven Virtual Observatory in Planetary Science

The VESPA data access system focuses on applying Virtual Observatory (VO) standards and tools to Planetary Science. Building on a previous EC-funded Europlanet program, it has reached maturity during the first year of a new Europlanet 2020 program (started in 2015 for 4 years). The infrastructure has been upgraded to handle many fields of Solar System studies, with a focus both on users and data providers. This paper describes the broad lines of the current VESPA infrastructure as seen by a potential user, and provides examples of real use cases in several thematic areas. These use cases are also intended to identify hints for future developments and adaptations of VO tools to Planetary Science.

AMDA, Automated Multi-Dataset Analysis: A Web-Based Service Provided by the CDPP

We present AMDA (Automated Mutli-Dataset Analysis), a new service recently opened at CDPP. AMDA is a web-based facility for on line analysis of space physics data coming from either its local database or distant ones. This tool allows the user to perform on line classical manipulations such as data visualization, parameter computation or data extraction. AMDA also offers innovative functionalities such as event search on the content of the data in either visual or automated way, and the generation, use and management of time-tables. These time-tables can be seen as a brick of up-coming virtual observatories in space physics, and could be used as an input to extract data from other databases, Cluster Active Archive in particular.

Discovering the sky at the Longest Wavelengths (DSL)

The radio sky at frequencies below ~30 MHz is virtually unobservable from Earth due to ionospheric disturbances and the opaqueness of the ionosphere below ~10MHz, and also due to strong terrestrial radio interference. Deploying a radio observatory in space would open up this largely unexplored frequency band for science in astronomy, cosmology, geophysics, and space science. A Chinese-European team is proposing an ultra long wavelength (ULW) radio interferometer mission DSL (Discovering the Sky at the Longest Wavelengths). The proposed radio interferometer will be deployed in low-altitude lunar orbit, exploiting the radio quietness of the lunar far side. DSL will consist of a mother-spacecraft for data transport and control, plus eight small micro-satellites each equipped with three orthogonal dipoles. These satellites form a virtual distributed observatory with adjustable baselines, allowing different scientific observation strategies. The satellites are configured in a flexible quasi-linear array in nearly identical orbits, guaranteeing low relative drift rates. Short orbital periods and orbit precession ensure quick filling of the interferometric spatial frequency (u, v, w) space, enabling high quality imaging. The science themes considered for the DSL mission include pioneering studies of the unknown and exploratory science such as the search for signatures of the cosmological Dark Ages, complementing current (e.g. LOFAR) and future SKA telescope searches; full-sky continuum survey of discrete sources, including ultra-steep spectrum extragalactic sources, pulsars, and transients (galactic and extragalactic); full-sky map of continuum diffuse emission; solar-terrestrial physics, planetary sciences, and cosmic ray physics. The main frequency band covered is 1-30 MHz extending down to 0.1 MHz, and up to about 50 MHz for cross-referencing with ground-based instruments. DSL will support a variety of observational modes, including broad-band spectral analysis for Dark Ages, radio interferometric cross-correlations for imaging, and flexible raw data downlink capability. Data processing will be performed at radio astronomy science data centres in Europe and China.

Goniopolarimetric techniques for low-frequency radio astronomy in space

The principles of space-based low-frequency radio astronomy are briefly introduced. As the wavelength range considered does not allow the use of focusing systems, goniopolarimetric (or “direction-finding”) techniques have been developed. These techniques are presented, and their limitations are discussed. An example from a recent study on auroral radio emissions at Saturn from Cassini/RPWS measurements illustrates the techniques.