Physics
Scientific paper
Feb 2001
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2001icar..149..384j&link_type=abstract
Icarus, Volume 149, Issue 2, pp. 384-396 (2001).
Physics
43
Scientific paper
Recent Hubble Space Telescope (HST) observations of the densities of neutralOH molecules that coexist with and are precursors of the plasma ions have constrained models for the plasma sources. An orbital simulation model of the evolution of H2O molecules emitted from the satellites and the E ring is employed to put additional constraints on the possible plasma/neutral sources in Saturn's magnetosphere. We find that a large H2O source concentrated near the orbit of Enceladus (of the order 1027 H2O molecules/s) is needed to account for the observed OH neutral cloud. We suggest that a large amount of optically unobserved material near Enceladus could provide the ``missing'' H2O source. A Monte-Carlo collisional transport code for sputtering of ice surfaces is developed and applied to the E-ring grains. Grain lifetimes are found to be short (~50 years for 1-μm grains and only a few years for 0.1-μm grains), so grains must be resupplied regularly to keep the E ring in the present state. Orbital collisions between icy fragments, possibly remains of a disrupted satellite near Enceladus, are the suggested mechanism for replenishing the E ring.
Johnson Robert E.
Jurac S.
Richardson John D.
No associations
LandOfFree
Saturn's E Ring and Production of the Neutral Torus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Saturn's E Ring and Production of the Neutral Torus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Saturn's E Ring and Production of the Neutral Torus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1212389