第八届青年地学论坛

Based on the improved moon absorption model, we numerically quantify the energetic electron and proton (0.01-100 MeV) lifetimes due to encounters with the inner five Saturn's moons (Mimas, Enceladus, Tethys, Dione, and Rhea) inside L<10. Our results show that the resultant averaged lifetimes of energetic electrons are between ~0.01 days and ~1000 days, and those of energetic protons are relatively shorter, varying from ~0.01 days to ~100 days. The averaged lifetimes of energetic electrons are roughly constant at energies < 0.1 MeV and have a sharp increase at energies of ~ 1 MeV where the drift velocities of electrons approach the Kepler velocities of moons. For > 1 MeV electrons, the corresponding electron lifetimes decrease as the electron energy increases. The averaged lifetimes of energetic protons just have a decreasing tendency with increasing equatorial pitch angles and kinetic energies. We find that Tethys's absorption is the strongest, with the corresponding electron lifetimes shorter than < 1 day for energies higher than several MeV and the corresponding proton lifetimes ranging from ~ 0.01 days to ~ 10 days. The moon absorption effects due to Mimas is the weakest, while those due to Enceladus, Dione, and Rhea are relatively stronger. Our comprehensive analysis of particle lifetimes due to the absorption against Saturnian moons can be incorporated into future modeling efforts of the energetic particle dynamics in Saturn's magnetosphere.
 

Saturn’s magnetosphere,Moon absorption,Absorption probability,Averaged lifetimes