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AGU: Journal of Geophysical Research, Space Physics

 
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Abstract

JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 85, NO. A11, PP. 5917-5924, 1980
doi:10.1029/JA085iA11p05917

Bimodality and the Formation of Saturn’s Ring Particles

Tom Gehrels

The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721

The F ring appears to have an outer and an inner rim, with only the latter observed by the imaging photopolarimeter (IPP) on the Pioneer Saturn spacecraft. The inside of the G ring, near 2.49 Rs , may also be seen in the optical data. 1979S1 is red as well as dark. The light scattered through the B ring is noticeably red. The A ring has a dense outer rim. The Cassini Division and the French Division (Dollfus Division) have a dark gap near their centers. The C ring becomes weaker toward the center such that outer, middle, and inner C rings can be recognized. The Pioneer and earth-based observations are explained with a model for the B and A rings to some extent of a bimodal size distribution of particles; the larger ones may be original accretions, while small debris diffuses inward through the Cassini Division and the C ring. During the formation of the ring system, differential gravitation allowed only silicaceous grains of higher density (ρ ≳ 3 g cm−3) to coagulate. These serve as interstitial cores for snowy carbonaceous grains, between the times of accretion from interplanetary cometary grains and liberation by collision followed by diffusion inward to Saturn and final evaporation.

Received 30 April 1980; accepted 26 June 1980; .

Citation: Gehrels, T. (1980), Bimodality and the Formation of Saturn’s Ring Particles, J. Geophys. Res., 85(A11), 5917–5924, doi:10.1029/JA085iA11p05917.

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