Electromagnetic Sounding to Probe Enceladus's Interior

This research explores the feasibility of using electromagnetic (EM) sounding to investigate the interior structure of Enceladus. EM sounding can provide valuable information about the salinity of its ocean, the porosity, fluid content, and thermal state of its hydrothermally active core, and the thickness of its ice shell. The study assesses the potential of both global (orbiter) and local (lander) EM induction transfer functions. A physical framework is presented for modeling EM induction for 1-D and 3-D subsurface conductivity models. The researchers simulate 3-D induction effects arising from variations in ice-shell thickness, demonstrating that the magnitude of these effects in the magnetic field correlates with the ice-shell thickness at the surface and is strongly dependent on the ocean's conductivity. The absence of these effects could indicate a thicker, more homogeneous ice shell and/or a lower-conductivity ocean. The study concludes that a polar-orbiting mission with low-altitude measurements will be required to detect these effects. Furthermore, lander-based broadband EM sounding at periods of approximately 10^1-10^5 seconds can probe ocean salinity and thickness, as well as core properties. The findings highlight the potential of EM sounding as a powerful tool for exploring the interior of Enceladus and assessing its habitability. Future missions incorporating EM sounding instruments could provide crucial insights into the ocean world.

_Context: This intelligence report was compiled by the DailyOrbitalWire Strategy Engine. Verified for Art. 50 Compliance._