Surface and sub-surface electrical measurement of Titan with the PWA-HASI experiment on HUYGENS

DOI: 
Publication date: 
01/01/2000
Main author: 
Hamelin M.
IAA authors: 
Brown, V.;Jeronimo, J.M.;López-Moreno, J.J.;Molina-Cuberos, G.;Rodrigo, R.
Authors: 
Hamelin M., Aydogar Ö., Bianchini G., Brown V., Falkner P., Fulchignoni M., Jernej I., Jeronimo J.M., Grard R., López-Moreno J.J., Molina-Cuberos G., Rodrigo R., Schwingenschuh K., Svedhem H.
Journal: 
Advances in Space Research
Publication type: 
Article
Volume: 
26
Pages: 
1697-1704
Number: 
Abstract: 
The Permittivity Waves and Altimetry (PWA) experiment is part of the Huygens Atmospheric Structure Instrument (HASI) presently 'en route' toTitan as a part of the HUYGENS Probe carried by the Saturn orbiter CASSINI. When HUYGENS lands upon Titan, the Mutual Impedance (MI) probe, part of the PWA experiment will be set to a special mode to measure the complex permittivity of the surface. We discuss here the capabilities of the instrument relative to several possible surface models currently under discussion. For a liquid surface, PWA will provide additional permittivity measurements to the Surface Science Package (SSP) measurements. In the case of a solid surface, with an estimation of the probe penetration from SSP acceleration data and under the assumption of homogeneity, the complex permittivity can be derived. Moreover, if the surface layer is well known up to a few tens of centimeters, we would also have knowledge of the permittivity of the underlying material. Although PWAMI provides only permittivity measurements it should contribute greatly to identifying Titan's surface structure and composition in synergy with the other HUYGENS instruments. © 2000 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Database: 
SCOPUS
Keywords: