A Statistical Study of Kilometric Radiation Fine Structure Striations
Observed at Jupiter and Saturn
A.J. Kopf & D.A. Gurnett
The Cassini spacecraft, currently in orbit around Saturn, carries the Radio and
Plasma Wave Science (RPWS) investigation, which measures several different types
of radio emission from the local plasma environment at frequencies up to 16 MHz.
One such type of emission is Saturn Kilometric Radiation (SKR), which is
generally observed from a few tens of kHz up to about 1 MHz. One RPWS receiver,
the Wideband Receiver, is capable of making measurements of the fine structure
that makes up the SKR emission. This data has revealed narrow negative-sloping
striations with durations of a few to about ten seconds. In addition, while en
route to Saturn, RPWS observed similar emission in the kHz band as Cassini flew
by Jupiter, and analysis has revealed the presence of similar striations in that
emission. These striations may be related to similar features observed in
Earth's Auroral Kilometric Radiation, which were explained by the presence of
solitary ion structures, or alternatively by electromagnetic ion cyclotron
waves. A statistical study has been performed to investigate the properties of
this emission at Jupiter and Saturn, including its duration, frequency range,
and drift rate, in order to compare these emissions to observations at Earth.
This presentation will focus on the results from Jupiter, but will also include
preliminary analysis from Saturn.
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