Suppression of Magnetic Reconnection at Saturn's Low-Latitude Magnetopause

Observations from the Cassini Plasma Spectrometer/Electron Spectrometer (CAPS/ELS) are used in an in-depth investigation of the occurrence and location of reconnection at Saturn's magnetopause. Heated, streaming electrons parallel and/or antiparallel to the magnetic field in the magnetosheath adjacent to the magnetopause indicate that reconnection is occurring somewhere on the boundary. In these instances, the Cassini spacecraft is connected to open magnetic field lines that thread the magnetopause boundary. A survey of 99 crossings with sufficient pitch angle coverage from CAPS/ELS indicates that 65% of the crossings had this evidence of reconnection. Specific crossings from this survey are used to demonstrate that there are times when reconnection at Saturn's low-latitude magnetopause may be suppressed. Key Points Cassini electron observations indicate that magnetic reconnection is common at Saturn's magnetopause These same observations indicate that magnetic reconnection is suppressed at Saturn's low-latitude magnetopause when the beta magnetic shear condition for reconnection is not met