A new approach for estimating Titan's electron conductivity based on data from relaxation probe sensors on the Huygens experiment

Molina‐Cuberos, G. J.; Godard, R.; López-Moreno, J. J.; Hamelin, Michel; Grard, R.; Simões, F.; Schwingenschuh, K.; Brown, V.; Falkner, P.; Ferri, F.; Jernej, I.; Jerónimo, J. M.; Rodrigo, R.; Trautner, R.; Nunez, M.J.; Ibrahim, Nada; Groth, C. P. T.; Fulchignoni, M.

doi:10.1016/j.pss.2010.09.014

Cited by 8 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…Figure 2 compares the two components of the electrical conductivity results with our model and the measurements obtained from the RP and MI data. The RP technique allows differentiation between the conductivity due to positive and negative charges and, therefore, can provide information about the densities of both charge carriers (López-Moreno et al, 2008;Molina-Cuberos et al, 2010). However, this method requires long time periods, which decreases the spatial resolution.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…increases the conductivity due to electrons and their predictions at 140 km differ approximately by four orders of magnitude with conductivity data retrieved from the RP sensor(López-Moreno et al, 2008;Molina-Cuberos et al, 2010).…”

mentioning

confidence: 79%

“…Cosmic rays ionize the neutral constituents of the atmosphere, producing positive ions and electrons. The PWA data shows that, for example, at the peak of electron density, the concentration of positive ions is approximately four times higher than that of electrons, and the ratio increases with altitude, reaching a factor of approximately 1000 at the top of the sounding range, 140 km (Hamelin et al, 2007;López-Moreno et al, 2008;Molina-Cuberos et al, 2010). In order to explain dissimilar concentrations of electrons and positive ions reported by the PWA sensors in the lower ionosphere, either electrophilic molecular species, embryos or aerosol particles able to attain negative charge must be considered (Borucki et al, 2006(Borucki et al, , 2008Whitten et al, 2007;Mishra et al, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Aerosols: The key to understanding Titan's lower ionosphere

Molina‐Cuberos

Cardnell

Garcia-Collado

et al. 2018

Planetary and Space Science

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The Permittivity Wave and Altimetry system on board the Huygens probe observed an ionospheric hidden layer at a much lower altitude than the main ionosphere during its descent through the atmosphere of Titan, the largest satellite of Saturn. Previous studies predicted a similar ionospheric layer.However, neither previous nor post-Huygens theoretical models have been able to reproduce the measurements of the electrical conductivity and charge densities reported by the Mutual Impedance (MI) and Relaxation Probe (RP) sensors. The measurements were made from an altitude of 140 km down to the ground and show a maximum of charge densities of ≈ 2×10 9 m −3 positive ions and ≈ 450 × 10 6 m −3 electrons at approximately 65 km. Such a large difference between positive and negative charge densities has not yet been understood. Here, by making use of electron and ion capture processes in to aerosols, we are able to model both electron and positive ion number densities and to reconcile experimental data and model results.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 79%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Aerosols: The key to understanding Titan's lower ionosphere

Molina‐Cuberos

Cardnell

Garcia-Collado

et al. 2018

Planetary and Space Science

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“…The instrument is based on the Relaxation Probe principle (Berthelier 2000, Molina-Cuberos et al 2010) which requires a more complex post-processing than a classic field-mill sensor. One of the capabilities that had to be tested was the ability for the instrument to detect the electric field variations during the nearby passage of a dust devil, the passage being confirmed by the classical weather measurements.…”

Section: Other Terrestrial Dust Devil Observationsmentioning

confidence: 99%