Magnetospheric physics

Physics of Magnetospheric Variability

Many widely used methods for describing and understanding the magnetosphere are based on balance conditions for quasi-static equilibrium (this is particularly true of the classical theory of magnetosphere/ionosphere coupling, which in addition presupposes the equilibrium to be stable); they may therefore be of limited applicability for dealing with time-variable phenomena as well as for determi...

A periodically active pulsar giving insight into magnetospheric physics.

PSR B1931+24 (J1933+2421) behaves as an ordinary isolated radio pulsar during active phases that are 5 to 10 days long. However, when the radio emission ceases, it switches off in less than 10 seconds and remains undetectable for the next 25 to 35 days, then switches on again. This pattern repeats quasi-periodically. The origin of this behavior is unclear. Even more remarkably, the pulsar rotat...

Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics Cassini plasma observations of Saturn’s magnetospheric cusp

The magnetospheric cusp is a funnel-shaped region where shocked solar wind plasma is able to enter the high-latitude magnetosphere via the process of magnetic reconnection. The plasma observations include various cusp signatures such as ion energy dispersions and diamagnetic effects. We present an overview analysis of cusp plasma observations at the Saturnian magnetosphere from the Cassini spac...

Magnetospheric Emissions from Extrasolar Planets Magnetospheric Emission from Extrasolar Planets

Saturn’s Magnetospheric Configuration

This Chapter summarizes our current understanding of Saturn’s magnetospheric configuration. Observations from the Cassini Prime and Equinox Missions have answered some questions and opened new ones. One of the fundamental questions of magnetospheric physics is what are the sources of the plasma that populate the magnetosphere. At Saturn, there is a rich set of possible plasma sources: the solar...