Observations of Solar Type III radio bursts by Cassini/RPWS experiment

Abstract

Abstract. In this study, we report on the occurrence of solar Type III radio bursts recorded by radio and plasma wave experiment (RPWS) experiment onboard Cassini spacecraft. This instrument is designed to investigate the Saturn's plasma environment and sub-auroral radio missions. RPWS/Cassini experiment allows to measure electric field over a frequency range from 1 Hz to 16 MHz (Gurnett et al., 2004). The essential observed emission is associated to the Saturnian Kilometric Radiation (SKR) which is generated in the sub-auroral regions of the magnetosphere. The capability of this experiment leads to detect Solar Type III radio bursts recorded during the increase phase of the solar activity, i.e. January 2008 to December 2014. Hence we have found more than 300 Type III solar bursts when the distance of Cassini to the Sun was about 10 AU. Observational parameters like the time occurrence, the emission frequency and the relative intensity are considered in this analysis. Those features lead us to characterize the detection conditions and to estimate the occurrence variabilities of Type III bursts.