title: The interaction of the atmosphere of Enceladus with Saturn's plasma.
abstract: During the 14 July 2005 encounter of Cassini with Enceladus, the Cassini Plasma Spectrometer measured strong deflections in the corotating ion flow, commencing at least 27 Enceladus radii (27 x 252.1 kilometers) from Enceladus. The Cassini Radio and Plasma Wave Science instrument inferred little plasma density increase near Enceladus. These data are consistent with ion formation via charge exchange and pickup by Saturn's magnetic field. The charge exchange occurs between neutrals in the Enceladus atmosphere and corotating ions in Saturn's inner magnetosphere. Pickup ions are observed near Enceladus, and a total mass loading rate of about 100 kilograms per second (3 x 10(27) H(2)O molecules per second) is inferred.
authors.affiliation: Space Science and Applications, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA. rlt@lanl.gov
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Tokar
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: T W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Pontius
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Kurth
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Crary
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Thomsen
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Reisenfeld
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Coates
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Sittler
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Gurnett
mesh_terms: D001272:Atmosphere; D005118:Extraterrestrial Environment / Q000737:chemistry; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000032:analysis; D010100:Oxygen / Q000032:analysis; D018539:Saturn; D018531:Spacecraft; D013057:Spectrum Analysis; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D014867:Water; D006859:Hydrogen; D010100:Oxygen