Implications of Voyager data for energetic ion erosion of the icy satellites of Saturn

The possible production of a neutral-particle torus by magnetosphere-particle sputtering of the icy satellites (Enceladus, Tethys, Dione, Rhea) of Saturn is discussed. Particle spectra from the Voyager low-energy-charged-particle experiment are used together with laboratory-derived erosion rates and velocity distributions for the ejected species. An extended torus region in the inner magnetosphere of Saturn is expected, with H2O escape fluxes in the vicinities of the satellites varying from about 2 to 7 x 10 to the 7th mol/sq cm sec for incident protons and from about 6 to 14 x 10 to the 9th mol/sq cm sec if the incident ions are all oxygen.