On the nature of the polarization opposition effect exhibited by Saturn's rings

Details On the nature of the polarization opposition effect exhibited by Saturn's rings On the nature of the polarization opposition effect exhibited by Saturn's rings

Jul 1993

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1993apj...411..351m&link_type=abstract

Astrophysical Journal, Part 1 (ISSN 0004-637X), vol. 411, no. 1, p. 351-361.

Other

56

Astronomical Photometry, Grain Size, Polarization Characteristics, Radiative Transfer, Regolith, Saturn Rings, Asteroids, Backscattering, Icy Satellites, Light Scattering

Scientific paper

The nature of the unusually narrow photometric and polarization opposition effects exhibited by Saturn's A and B rings is examined using a theory and results of laboratory measurements. It is pointed out that the small angular width of both phenomena makes it difficult to explain them on the basis of the commonly used shadowing models. On the other hand, it is known from laboratory experiments and theoretical studies, that a strong and very narrow opposition peak in the reflected intensity can be produced by coherent backscattering of light from powderlike layers of small regolithic grains. Using Ozrin's (1992) rigorous vector theory of coherent backscattering, it is shown that, for subwavelength-sized regolithic particles, the photometric opposition effect is accompanied by a polarization opposition effect of the same angular width. This suggests that the polarization opposition effect of the Saturn's ring has the same origin as the photometric opposition effect and is due to coherent backscattering of light from the regolithic layer composed of the submicrometer-sized ice grains.

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