The discovery of oxygen kα X-ray emission from the rings of Saturn

Abstract

Using the Advanced CCD Imaging Spectrometer (ACIS), the Chandra X-Ray Observatory observed the Saturnian system for one rotation of the planet (~37 ks) on 2004 January 20 and again on January 26-27. In this Letter we report the detection of X-ray emission from the rings of Saturn. The X-ray spectrum from the rings is dominated by emission in a narrow (~130 eV-wide) energy band centered on the atomic oxygen Kα fluorescence line at 0.53 keV. The X-ray power emitted from the rings in the 0.49-0.62 keV band is 84 MW, which is about one-third of that emitted from Saturn's disk in the photon energy range 0.24-2.0 keV. Our analysis also finds a clear detection of X-ray emission from the rings in the 0.49-0.62 keV band in an earlier (2003 April 14-15) Chandra ACIS observation of Saturn. Fluorescent scattering of solar X-rays from oxygen atoms in the H₂O icy ring material is the likely source mechanism for ring X-rays, consistent with the scenario of the solar photoproduction of a tenuous oxygen atmosphere and ionosphere over the rings recently discovered by Cassini.