Oxygen ions observed near Saturn's A ring

J. H. Waite; T. E. Cravens; W. H. Ip; W. T. Kasprzak; J. G. Luhmann; R. L. McNutt; H. B. Niemann; R. V. Yelle; I. Mueller-Wodarg; S. A. Ledvina; S. Scherer

doi:10.1126/science.1105734

Oxygen ions observed near Saturn's A ring

J. H. Waite, T. E. Cravens, W. H. Ip, W. T. Kasprzak, J. G. Luhmann, R. L. McNutt, H. B. Niemann, R. V. Yelle, I. Mueller-Wodarg, S. A. Ledvina, S. Scherer

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

Ions were detected in the vicinity of Saturn's A ring by the Ion and Neutral Mass Spectrometer (INMS) instrument onboard the Cassini Orbiter during the spacecraft's passage over the rings. The INMS saw signatures of molecular and atomic oxygen ions and of protons, thus demonstrating the existence of an ionosphere associated with the A ring. A likely explanation for these ions is photoionization by solar ultraviolet radiation of neutral O₂ molecules associated with a tenuous ring atmosphere. INMS neutral measurements made during the ring encounter are dominated by a background signal.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	1260-1262
Number of pages	3
Journal	Science
Volume	307
Issue number	5713
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1105734
State	Published - Feb 25 2005

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title = "Oxygen ions observed near Saturn's A ring",

abstract = "Ions were detected in the vicinity of Saturn's A ring by the Ion and Neutral Mass Spectrometer (INMS) instrument onboard the Cassini Orbiter during the spacecraft's passage over the rings. The INMS saw signatures of molecular and atomic oxygen ions and of protons, thus demonstrating the existence of an ionosphere associated with the A ring. A likely explanation for these ions is photoionization by solar ultraviolet radiation of neutral O2 molecules associated with a tenuous ring atmosphere. INMS neutral measurements made during the ring encounter are dominated by a background signal.",

author = "Waite, {J. H.} and Cravens, {T. E.} and Ip, {W. H.} and Kasprzak, {W. T.} and Luhmann, {J. G.} and McNutt, {R. L.} and Niemann, {H. B.} and Yelle, {R. V.} and I. Mueller-Wodarg and Ledvina, {S. A.} and S. Scherer",

year = "2005",

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doi = "10.1126/science.1105734",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "307",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Oxygen ions observed near Saturn's A ring

AU - Waite, J. H.

AU - Cravens, T. E.

AU - Ip, W. H.

AU - Kasprzak, W. T.

AU - Luhmann, J. G.

AU - McNutt, R. L.

AU - Niemann, H. B.

AU - Yelle, R. V.

AU - Mueller-Wodarg, I.

AU - Ledvina, S. A.

AU - Scherer, S.

PY - 2005/2/25

Y1 - 2005/2/25

N2 - Ions were detected in the vicinity of Saturn's A ring by the Ion and Neutral Mass Spectrometer (INMS) instrument onboard the Cassini Orbiter during the spacecraft's passage over the rings. The INMS saw signatures of molecular and atomic oxygen ions and of protons, thus demonstrating the existence of an ionosphere associated with the A ring. A likely explanation for these ions is photoionization by solar ultraviolet radiation of neutral O2 molecules associated with a tenuous ring atmosphere. INMS neutral measurements made during the ring encounter are dominated by a background signal.

AB - Ions were detected in the vicinity of Saturn's A ring by the Ion and Neutral Mass Spectrometer (INMS) instrument onboard the Cassini Orbiter during the spacecraft's passage over the rings. The INMS saw signatures of molecular and atomic oxygen ions and of protons, thus demonstrating the existence of an ionosphere associated with the A ring. A likely explanation for these ions is photoionization by solar ultraviolet radiation of neutral O2 molecules associated with a tenuous ring atmosphere. INMS neutral measurements made during the ring encounter are dominated by a background signal.

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DO - 10.1126/science.1105734

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JF - Science

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ER -

Oxygen ions observed near Saturn's A ring

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