On the nature of the spokes in Saturn's rings

Details On the nature of the spokes in Saturn's rings On the nature of the spokes in Saturn's rings

Jun 1991

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1991icar...91..297t&link_type=abstract

Icarus (ISSN 0019-1035), vol. 91, June 1991, p. 297-314. CEA-supported research.

Other

13

Kepler Laws, Magnetoacoustic Waves, Magnetohydrodynamics, Planetary Magnetic Fields, Saturn Rings, Group Velocity, Planetary Magnetospheres, Planetary Rotation, Spokes, Voyager 2 Spacecraft

Scientific paper

The present scheme for the generation of the Saturn-ring 'spokes' observed by Voyager identifies their shape and other primary characteristics with those of magnetosonic waves, which have demonstrated the ability to generate comparable radial structures in the vicinity of corotation in a thin, ionized Keplerian disk. The spokes' rapid radial extension is accounted for by the group velocity of such waves, which is greater than the Alfven speed. It is shown that, within known parameters, the perturbed velocity imparted to small grains will suffice for the formation of a 'spray' of dust, via collision with larger grains; thereby explaining the unique appearance of the spokes.

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