Formation of a Propeller Structure by a Moonlet in a Dense Planetary Ring

Details Formation of a Propeller Structure by a Moonlet in a Dense Planetary Ring Formation of a Propeller Structure by a Moonlet in a Dense Planetary Ring

2011-04-04

arxiv.org/abs/1104.0462v1

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

Earth and Planetary Astrophysics

12 pages, 4 figures. Accepted for publication in ApJ Letters

Scientific paper

The Cassini spacecraft discovered a propeller-shaped structure in Saturn's A ring. This propeller structure is thought to be formed by gravitational scattering of ring particles by an unseen embedded moonlet. Self-gravity wakes are prevalent in dense rings due to gravitational instability. Strong gravitational wakes affect the propeller structure. Here, we derive the condition for formation of a propeller structure by a moonlet embedded in a dense ring with gravitational wakes. We find that a propeller structure is formed when the wavelength of the gravitational wakes is smaller than the Hill radius of the moonlet. We confirm this formation condition by performing numerical simulations. This condition is consistent with observations of propeller structures in Saturn's A ring.

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