In situ observations of a solar wind compression-induced hot plasma injection in Saturn's tail : Saturn's magnetosphere: First results from Cassini

During the Saturn orbit insertion (SOI) fly-through of the Cassini spacecraft, Saturn's magnetosphere underwent a significant corotating interaction region (CIR) related compression. Such compressions have recently been suggested to produce rapid bursts of tail reconnection, enhanced Saturn kilometric radiation (SKR), and consequent auroral dynamics. On the outbound pass the spacecraft became engulfed by hot plasma, associated with a reduction in field strength, and a change in orientation indicative of a dipolarisation. Concurrently, a substantial enhancement in SKR emissions took place, together with a disruption of the typical planetary modulation. We suggest this is the first in situ evidence of compression-related tail collapse via magnetic reconnection and hot plasma acceleration in Saturn's magnetotail.