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C T Russell

Publications and source records attributed to C T Russell.

14 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

A regular period for Saturn's magnetic field that may track its internal rotation.

The rotation rate of a planet is one of its fundamental properties. Saturn's rotation, however, is difficult to determine because there is no solid surface from which to time it, and the alternative 'clock'--the magnetic field--is nearly symmetrically aligned with the rotation axis. Radio emissions, thought to provide a proxy measure of the rotation of the magnetic field, have yielded estimates of the rotation period between 10 h 39 min 22 s and 10 h 45 min 45 s (refs 8-10). Because the period determined from radio measurements exhibits large time variations, even on timescales of months, it has been uncertain whether the radio-emission periodicity coincides with the inner rotation rate of the planet. Here we report magnetic field measurements that revealed a time-stationary magnetic signal with a period of 10 h 47 min 6 s +/- 40 s. The signal appears to be stable in period, amplitude and phase over 14 months of observations, pointing to a close connection with the conductive region inside the planet, although its interpretation as the 'true' inner rotation period is still uncertain.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Identification of a dynamic atmosphere at Enceladus with the Cassini magnetometer.

The Cassini magnetometer has detected the interaction of the magnetospheric plasma of Saturn with an atmospheric plume at the icy moon Enceladus. This unanticipated finding, made on a distant flyby, was subsequently confirmed during two follow-on flybys, one very close to Enceladus. The magnetometer data are consistent with local outgassing activity via a plume from the surface of the moon near its south pole, as confirmed by other Cassini instruments.

Atmosphere↗
PubMed2005

Differentiation of the asteroid Ceres as revealed by its shape.

The accretion of bodies in the asteroid belt was halted nearly 4.6 billion years ago by the gravitational influence of the newly formed giant planet Jupiter. The asteroid belt therefore preserves a record of both this earliest epoch of Solar System formation and variation of conditions within the solar nebula. Spectral features in reflected sunlight indicate that some asteroids have experienced sufficient thermal evolution to differentiate into layered structures. The second most massive asteroid--4 Vesta--has differentiated to a crust, mantle and core. 1 Ceres, the largest and most massive asteroid, has in contrast been presumed to be homogeneous, in part because of its low density, low albedo and relatively featureless visible reflectance spectrum, similar to carbonaceous meteorites that have suffered minimal thermal processing. Here we show that Ceres has a shape and smoothness indicative of a gravitationally relaxed object. Its shape is significantly less flattened than that expected for a homogeneous object, but is consistent with a central mass concentration indicative of differentiation. Possible interior configurations include water-ice-rich mantles over a rocky core.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

Cassini magnetometer observations during Saturn orbit insertion.

Cassini's successful orbit insertion has provided the first examination of Saturn's magnetosphere in 23 years, revealing a dynamic plasma and magnetic environment on short and long time scales. There has been no noticeable change in the internal magnetic field, either in its strength or its near-alignment with the rotation axis. However, the external magnetic field is different compared with past spacecraft observations. The current sheet within the magnetosphere is thinner and more extended, and we observed small diamagnetic cavities and ion cyclotron waves of types that were not reported before.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2003

The global morphology of wave Poynting flux: powering the aurora.

Large-scale, electric currents flowing along magnetic field lines into the polar regions of Earth are thought to be the main contributors of the energy that powers the ionospheric aurora. However, we have found evidence for global contributions from electromagnetic waves (Alfvén waves). Data that were collected from the Polar spacecraft over the course of 1 year show that the flow of wave electromagnetic energy at altitudes of 25,000 to 38,000 kilometers delineates the statistical auroral oval. The Poynting flux of individual events distributed along the auroral oval was larger than 5 ergs per square centimeter per second, which is sufficient to power auroral acceleration processes. This evidence suggests that in addition to magnetic field-aligned currents, the dayside and nightside aurora is globally powered by the energy flow of these high-altitude Alfvén waves.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Galileo magnetometer measurements: a stronger case for a subsurface ocean at Europa.

On 3 January 2000, the Galileo spacecraft passed close to Europa when it was located far south of Jupiter's magnetic equator in a region where the radial component of the magnetospheric magnetic field points inward toward Jupiter. This pass with a previously unexamined orientation of the external forcing field distinguished between an induced and a permanent magnetic dipole moment model of Europa's internal field. The Galileo magnetometer measured changes in the magnetic field predicted if a current-carrying outer shell, such as a planet-scale liquid ocean, is present beneath the icy surface. The evidence that Europa's field varies temporally strengthens the argument that a liquid ocean exists beneath the present-day surface.

Extraterrestrial Environment↗
PubMed2000

Detection of SO in Io's exosphere.

The Galileo orbiter's close pass by Io in 1995 produced evidence for extensive mass loading of the plasma torus through the ionization of SO2. On 11 October 1999, Galileo passed even closer to Io, this time across the upstream side relative to the flow of magnetospheric plasma that corotates with Jupiter. On the first flyby, ion cyclotron waves gave direct evidence for the production of SO2+ ions. On the second flyby, ion cyclotron waves associated with SO+ were stronger and more persistent. Moreover, SO+ emissions were seen closer to Io than SO2+ emissions, suggesting that the exosphere was spatially inhomogeneous. The location of the waves suggests a fan-shaped region of ion pickup extending in the anti-Jupiter direction. Because the wave spectra were different even where the 1995 and 1999 trajectories crossed, we infer that Io's exosphere is temporally variable.

Cations↗
PubMed1998

Induced magnetic fields as evidence for subsurface oceans in Europa and Callisto.

The Galileo spacecraft has been orbiting Jupiter since 7 December 1995, and encounters one of the four galilean satellites-Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto-on each orbit. Initial results from the spacecraft's magnetometer have indicated that neither Europa nor Callisto have an appreciable internal magnetic field, in contrast to Ganymede and possibly Io. Here we report perturbations of the external magnetic fields (associated with Jupiter's inner magnetosphere) in the vicinity of both Europa and Callisto. We interpret these perturbations as arising from induced magnetic fields, generated by the moons in response to the periodically varying plasma environment. Electromagnetic induction requires eddy currents to flow within the moons, and our calculations show that the most probable explanation is that there are layers of significant electrical conductivity just beneath the surfaces of both moons. We argue that these conducting layers may best be explained by the presence of salty liquid-water oceans, for which there is already indirect geological evidence in the case of Europa.

Extraterrestrial Environment↗
PubMed1997

Europa's magnetic signature: report from Galileo's pass on 19 December 1996.

On 19 December 1996 as Galileo passed close to Jupiter's moon, Europa, the magnetometer measured substantial departures from the slowly varying background field of Jupiter's magnetosphere. Currents coupling Europa to Jupiter's magnetospheric plasma could produce perturbations of the observed size. However, the trend of the field perturbations is here modeled as the signature of a Europa-centered dipole moment whose maximum surface magnitude is approximately 240 nanotesla, giving a rough upper limit to the internal field. The dipole orientation is oblique to Europa's spin axis. This orientation may not be probable for a field generated by a core dynamo, but higher order multipoles may be important as they are at Uranus and Neptune. Although the data can be modeled as contributions of an internal field of Europa, they do not confirm its existence. The dipole orientation is also oblique to the imposed field of Jupiter and thus not directly produced as a response to that field. Close to Europa, plasma currents appear to produce perturbations with scale sizes that are small compared with a Europa radius.

Extraterrestrial Environment↗
PubMed1996

Topical anaesthesia in neonatal circumcision: a study of 208 consecutive cases.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the suitability and effectiveness of EMLA cream (a eutectic mixture of lignocaine and prilocaine) as a topical anaesthetic for routine neonatal circumcision. DESIGN: A clinical trial of EMLA cream was conducted on 208 consecutive routine neonatal circumcisions. All circumcisions were performed by the Plastibell technique with prior use of EMLA anaesthetic cream. Results were obtained by intra-operative observation and follow-up questionnaire answered by parents. RESULTS: There was a marked decrease in crying during the procedure. In infants under the age of 7 months, 99.0% fed immediately, 96.0% settled rapidly and remained settled, 96.5% had no disturbance of sleep pattern, 92.5% had little or no pain and 96.0% had no pain or difficulty when urinating. None required stronger analgesia than paracetamol. Infants over the age of 7 months had more difficulty settling; however, their discomfort was no different from that seen in infants of similar age who were circumcised using general anaesthesia. There were no 'serious' complications and only 3.5% had minor complications. There were no side effects or complications attributable to the EMLA cream. CONCLUSION: EMLA anaesthetic cream, properly applied, is a safe and effective method of anaesthesia for circumcision of neonates to 7 months of age. It reduces or eliminates pain, restlessness, agitation and interference with parent bonding. The common practice (in Australia) of suggesting that parents postpone circumcision until the child is suitable for general anaesthesia should be seriously questioned.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed1988

Morphological and developmental characterization of local-circuit neurons in lamina III of the rat spinal cord.

Using the Golgi silver impregnation technique the present study examines the morphology and development of presumptive local circuit neurons in lamina III of the rat lumbar spinal cord. These neurons generate local axonal plexuses which remain within the gray matter and dendritic trees which arborize in lamina III and the inner zone of lamina II. Analysis of developmental stages supports the contention that these neurons have local axons which do not enter the white matter. These cells undergo axonal and dendritic maturation during the postnatal period, well after the maturation of long axon neurons. This pattern parallels the development of local circuit neurons in lamina II.

Animals↗
PubMed1972

Growth, cell division, and fragmentation in a species of Flexibacter.

Flexibacter FS-1, a gram-negative gliding bacterium was grown in liquid culture as long (over 100-mum) filaments. The filaments possessed a triple-track wall which resembled that found in other gram-negative bacteria. Although phase-contrast microscopy indicated that the long filaments were nonseptate, electron microscopy revealed three or four septa along the length of each filament. The septa contained lysozyme-sensitive, electron-opaque material, presumed to be peptidoglycan, sandwiched between cell membranes. The outer triple track wall was not part of the septum. Mesosomes were seen in various areas of the cell and frequently were observed attached to septa in different stages of completion. Studies of the organism in slide culture revealed that individual filaments grew in an exponential fashion and divided in the middle despite the long length and multiseptate condition. When the temperature of a liquid culture growing exponentially with a generation time of 90 minutes was shifted from 30 to 35 C, the filaments fragmented into three or four shorter cells within 120 min. The short cells continued to grow exponentially at 35 C at approximately the same rate as at 30 C. When the culture was shifted back to 30 C, the cells immediately stopped dividing and began to elongate. After a period of 2 to 3 hr, cell division resumed. It is suggested that the shift-up in temperature induced the completion of the cross wall (centripetal growth of the triple-track wall) and cell separation at the sites of previously formed septa, whereas the shift-down in temperature caused a transient inhibition of cross-wall formation but not of growth. Fragmentation was inhibited by sodium azide but took place despite the inhibition of protein synthesis by chloramphenicol or the inhibition of deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis by mitomycin C.

Azides↗