A fast computation of the diurnal secondary ion production in the ionosphere of Titan

Jean Lilensten (1) , Cyril Simon (1) , Olivier Witasse (2) , Odile Dutuit (3) , Roland Thissen (3) , Christian Alcaraz (4)

1 LPG - Laboratoire de Planétologie de Grenoble
2 ESTEC - European Space Research and Technology Centre
3 LCPO - Laboratoire de Chimie Physique D'Orsay
4 LURE - Laboratoire pour l'Utilisation du Rayonnement Electromagnétique (LURE)

We propose an analytic model that allows rapid computation of the secondary ion production due to electron impact from the primary photo-production in the ionosphere of Titan. The model parameters are given for each of the 5 major ion productions (N+2, CH+4, N+, CH+3, N++2) as well as for the electron production.

Keywords: Titan; Ionospheres; Solar radiation

Jean Lilensten, Cyril Simon, Olivier Witasse, Odile Dutuit, Roland Thissen, et al.. A fast computation of the diurnal secondary ion production in the ionosphere of Titan. Icarus, 2005, 174 (1), pp.285-288. ⟨10.1016/j.icarus.2004.12.002⟩. ⟨insu-00356352⟩