Strumentazione ed Esperimenti per Campi, Particelle e Onde:
Radio & Plasma Wave Science (RPWS)
PI: Prof. Donald A. Gurnett
RPWS Principal Investigator:
Prof. Donald A. Gurnett
Department of Physics and Astronomy
University of Iowa
Van Allen Hall
Iowa City, Ia 52242
RPWS General Description:
The major functions of the Radio and Plasma Wave Science (RWPS)
instrument are to measure the electric and magnetic fields and
electron density and temperature in the interplanetary medium
and planetary magnetospheres.
RPWS Scientific Objectives:
To study the configuration of Saturn's magnetic field and
its relationship to Saturn Kilometric Radiation (SKR).
To monitor and map the sources of SKR.
To study daily variations in Saturn's ionosphere and search
for outflowing plasma in the magnetic cusp region.
To study radio signals from lightning in Saturn's atmosphere.
To investigate Saturn Electric Discharges (SED).
To determine the current systems in Saturn's magnetosphere
and study the composition, sources, and sinks of magnetospheric
plasma.
To investigate the dynamics of the magnetosphere with the
solar wind, satellites, and rings.
To study the rings as a source of magnetospheric plasma.
To look for plasma waves associated with ring spoke phenomena.
To determine the dust and meteroid distributions throughout
the Saturnian system and interplanetary space.
To study waves and turbulence generated by the interaction
of charged dust grains with the magnetospheric plasma.
To investigate the interactions of the icy satellites and
the ring systems.
To measure electron density and temperature in the vicinity
of Titan.
To study the ionization of Titan's upper atmosphere and ionosphere
and the interactions of the atmosphere and exosphere with the
surrounding plasma.
To investigate the production, transport, and loss of plasma
from Titan's upper atmosphere and ionosphere.
To search for radio signals from lightning in Titan's atmosphere,
a possible source for atmospheric chemistry.
To study the interaction of Titan with the solar wind and
magnetospheric plasma.
To study Titan's vast hydrogen torus as a source of magnetospheric
plasma.
To study Titan's induced magnetosphere.
RPWS Sensing Instruments:
Electric Field Sensor
Magnetic Field Sensor
Langmuir Probe
High, Medium, and Wide Band Receivers
RPWS Instrument Characteristics:
Mass (current best estimate) = 6.80 kg
Average Operating Power (current best estimate) = 7.00 W
Average Data Rate (current best estimate) = 0.90 kilobits/s
Click here to see photographs
of RPWS instrumentation (antenna housing and electronics).
For additional information,
see http://www-pw.physics.uiowa.edu/plasma-wave/cassini/home.html
(Cassini RPWS homepage).