On the Inference of Properties of Saturn's Ring E from Energetic Charged Particle Observations.

摘要

Assuming that Saturn has trapped radiation belts similar to those of Earth and Jupiter, it is shown that observations of the radial dependence of the intensities, energy spectra, electron-to-proton intensity ratio, and pitch angle distributions of energetic charged particles trapped outside of Ring A can potentially provide information on the existence of Ring E, on the size distribution of the particulate matter therein, and on the magnitude of the radial diffusion coefficient for energetic particles. A parametric study of these possibilities is specialized to the characteristics of the University of Iowa detectors on Pioneer 11, which will make a close encounter with Saturn in August-September 1979. (Author)