Analytical modeling of hot ion interchange injections in Saturn's magnetosphere

An azimuthal-drift model is used to assess 816 hot-ion injection events that were observed by Cassini in Saturn's inner magnetosphere Out of 243 events for which the modeled ion drift later intersected the Cassini orbit, 77% overlapped an observed dispersed ion signature Results suggest most hot-ion injections are channel-like structures extending across a long radial distance rather than localized bubbles