Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Jan 1992
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1992mnras.254p..15m&link_type=abstract
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (ISSN 0035-8711), vol. 254, Jan. 15, 1992, p. 15P-18P.
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
28
Backscattering, Photons, Saturn Rings, Astronomical Photometry, Ice, Voyager Project, Water
Scientific paper
Weak localization of photons in discrete disordered media (or the coherent backscattering mechanism) is shown to be a likely explanation of the opposition effect exhibited by Saturn's rings. Specifically, the particles of Saturn's rings are covered with small H2O ice grains, and the opposition effect produced by these grains is calculated via the coherent backscattering mechanism. Both the width and amplitude of the observed opposition effect at visible wavelengths are consistent with theoretical calculations for effective grain radii of about 0.1-1 micron. Such grains are known to be present in the outer B ring of Saturn and give rise to the so-called 'spokes'. Thus, the opposition effect of Saturn's rings is thought to be due to the surface properties of the individual ring particles rather than to interparticle shadowing.
Dlugach Zh. M.
Mishchenko Michael I.
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