Features in the visible spectra of the Enceladus particle plume and E ring: Potential evidence of organic materials and/or missing sub-micron particles

M. M. Hedman; S. M. MacKenzie

doi:10.1029/2025je009647

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arXiv · 2607.15940

Features in the visible spectra of the Enceladus particle plume and E ring: Potential evidence of organic materials and/or missing sub-micron particles

M. M. Hedman·S. M. MacKenzie

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Abstract

Visible spectra of the Enceladus particle plume and E ring contain evidence for a change in spectral slope around 0.5 micron. This feature can be seen in data obtained by both the Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) and Imaging Science Subsystem (ISS) onboard the Cassini Spacecraft, and is consistent with the slope change seen in the surface spectra of Saturn's rings and moons that has been attributed to either organics or iron compounds. The observed spectral features in the plume and E ring could represent either a non-ice contaminant in the plume particles or a deficit of sub-micron particles, so this spectral feature provides a new tool for assessing variations in the plume particle's composition and/or size distribution with time and space. The observed strength of this feature is consistent with the plume particles having an organic fraction similar to that measured by in-situ measurements, so there are good reasons to expect that this feature can be used to quantify the organic content of the plume particles. There are also hints of a potential absorption band around 0.45 micron in these spectra. If this feature can be confirmed, it could provide further constraints on the plume particles' composition.

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M. M. Hedman, S. M. MacKenzie. 2026-07-17. Features in the visible spectra of the Enceladus particle plume and E ring: Potential evidence of organic materials and/or missing sub-micron particles. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025je009647

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