The fine-scale density wave structure of Saturn's rings

Details The fine-scale density wave structure of Saturn's rings The fine-scale density wave structure of Saturn's rings

Apr 2003

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2003eaeja.....3168g&link_type=abstract

EGS - AGU - EUG Joint Assembly, Abstracts from the meeting held in Nice, France, 6 - 11 April 2003, abstract #3168

Computer Science

Scientific paper

A self-consistent system of the Boltzmann and the Poisson equations is used to study the dynamical evolution of Saturn's main A, B, C rings composed of discrete mutually gravitating particles. The simplified case of rare collisions between identical particles, when the collision frequency is smaller than the orbital frequency, is examined by exploring in the Boltzmann equation a Krook model integral of collisions. Equations describing the quasilinear (or weakly nonlinear) stage of Jeans instability of small gravity perturbations in Saturn's rings are derived and solved analytically. The theory, as applied to Saturn's rings, predicts for several features, such as numerous irregular Jeans-unstable density wakes, with size and spacing between them of the order of 2pi h <= 100 m, where h is the typical thickness of the system. The interaction of particles with these almost aperiodically growing gravity perturbations increases both the radial spread of the disk and random velocities of particles in a very short time scale of only 2-3 disk orbital revolutions. The latter leads to an eventual stabilization of the system, unless some effective ``cooling" mechanism exists, reducing the magnitude of the relative velocity of particles. It is suggested that inelastic (dissipative) interparticle impacts provide such a cooling mechanism, leading to the recurrent density waves activity. We predict that forthcoming in 2004 Cassini spacecraft high-resolution images will reveal this fine-scale recurrent ˜ 100 m or even less spiral density wave structure in low and moderately high optical depth regions (τ <= 1, where τ is the normal optical depth) of Saturn's main rings. Acknowledgements: Partial support for this work was provided by the Israel Science Foundation and the Israeli Ministry of Immigrant Absorption.

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