Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2006-10-09
Icarus 189, 14-34 (2007)
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
43 pages, 21 figures; To appear in Icarus
Scientific paper
10.1016/j.icarus.2006.12.025
We describe a powerful signal processing method, the continuous wavelet transform, and use it to analyze radial structure in Cassini ISS images of Saturn's rings. Wavelet analysis locally separates signal components in frequency space, causing many structures to become evident that are difficult to observe with the naked eye. Density waves, generated at resonances with saturnian satellites orbiting outside (or within) the rings, are particularly amenable to such analysis. We identify a number of previously unobserved weak waves, and demonstrate the wavelet transform's ability to isolate multiple waves superimposed on top of one another. We also present two wave-like structures that we are unable to conclusively identify. In a multi-step semi-automated process, we recover four parameters from clearly observed weak spiral density waves: the local ring surface density, the local ring viscosity, the precise resonance location (useful for pointing images, and potentially for refining saturnian astrometry), and the wave amplitude (potentially providing new constraints upon the masses of the perturbing moons). Our derived surface densities have less scatter than previous measurements that were derived from stronger non-linear waves, and suggest a gentle linear increase in surface density from the inner to the mid-A Ring. We show that ring viscosity consistently increases from the Cassini Division outward to the Encke Gap. Meaningful upper limits on ring thickness can be placed on the Cassini Division (3.0 m at r~118,800 km, 4.5 m at r~120,700 km) and the inner A Ring (10 to 15 m for r<127,000 km).
Burns Joseph A.
Hedman Matthew M.
Nicholson Philip D.
Porco Carolyn C.
Tiscareno Matthew S.
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