"energetic charged particle characteristics in the saturnian magnetosphere" given the existence of a planetary magnetosphere, one is motivated to investigate the fundamental properties of such an…

"energetic charged particle characteristics in the saturnian magnetosphere" given the existence of a planetary magnetosphere, one is motivated to investigate the fundamental properties of such an entity which include the composition, spectrum, extent, dynamical phenomenon, and its interaction with satellites, the saturnian atmosphere/ionosphere, and magnetospheric boundaries. We seek to use the mimi cluster of instruments on the cassini spacecraft and magnetic field data where appropriate to investigate the energetic ION characteristics of the saturnian magnetosphere. We use an approach whereby a model of the distribution functions of oxygen and hydrogen ions is constructed, so that we may fit the model to data acquired by cassini and extract physical parameters that include the velocity, composition, and characteristic energy throughout a broad region of the magnetosphere. The inca instrument is very sensitive and may detect particles at very high spatial resolution over a broad extent of the sky during spacecraft spin periods. IT can differentiate between oxygen and hydrogen ions, the 2 primary ION constituents of the energetic saturnian magnetosphere. The lemms instrument can sample magnetospheric ions over a broad energy range that makes IT ideal for understanding the spectral properties and to calculate the pressure from energetic ions. We will integrate both instruments into our analysis or use them individually depending on the local plasma environment to construct a picture of the large scale behavior of the magnetospheric plasma. We will develop a rotation curve for the magnetosphere and investigate its time and local time dependence. We will investigate the effect of satellite interactions such as the comet-like interaction with titan on the energetic plasma ions. We will investigate the global configuration of the magnetosphere and transport of plasma within the system. Given these goals, this investigation will meet the objective of the cassini data analysis program (cdap) that seeks enhance the scientific return of the cassini mission by broadening the scientific analysis and interpretation of cassini data. Obviously the cassini mission is of primary importance to NASA and fits within the framework of the NASA strategic goals of studying in detail the outer planetary systems.