title: Saturn's Magnetic Field and Magnetosphere.
abstract: The Pioneer Saturn vector helium magnetometer has detected a bow shock and magnetopause at Saturn and has provided an accurate characterization of the planetary field. The equatorial surface field is 0.20 gauss, a factor of 3 to 5 times smaller than anticipated on the basis of attempted scalings from Earth and Jupiter. The tilt angle between the magnetic dipole axis and Saturn's rotation axis is < 1 degrees , a surprisingly small value. Spherical harmonic analysis of the measurements shows that the ratio of quadrupole to dipole moments is < 10 percent, indicating that the field is more uniform than those of the Earth or Jupiter and consistent with Saturn having a relatively small core. The field in the outer magnetosphere shows systematic departures from the dipole field, principally a compression of the field near noon and an equatorial orientation associated with a current sheet near dawn. A hydromagnetic wake resulting from the interaction of Titan with the rotating magnetosphere appears to have been observed.
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Coleman
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Colburn
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dyal
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Sonett