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AGU: Geophysical Research Letters

 

Index Terms

  • Planetary Sciences: Solar System Objects: Planetary rings
  • Planetary Sciences: Solar System Objects: Saturn
  • Planetary Sciences: Solar System Objects: Saturnian satellites

Abstract

Structures induced by small moonlets in Saturn's rings: Implications for the Cassini Mission

M. Seiß

Department of Physics, Nonlinear Dynamics, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany

F. Spahn

Department of Physics, Nonlinear Dynamics, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany

M. Sremčević

Department of Physics, Nonlinear Dynamics, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany

H. Salo

Department of Physical Science, Astronomy Division, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland

Particle simulations are carried out to study density features caused by small moonlets embedded in a dense planetary ring. The creation of a “propeller” like structure is found together with adjacent density wakes. Both features are clear indications for the existence of moonlets in the rings. We confirmed that the propeller scales with the Hill-radius in radial direction whereas its azimuthal extent is determined by the ratio between the moonlet-mass and the ring-viscosity. Our findings bear direct implications for the analysis of the Cassini imaging (ISS) and occultation (UVIS) data: (i) for the detection of embedded larger bodies (>30 m) in Saturn's rings, and (ii) for remotely probing transport properties of the rings. The existence of a moonlet population may point to a catastrophic disruption of a parent body as a formation scenario for rings.

Received 21 January 2005; accepted 5 May 2005; published 15 June 2005.

Citation: Seiß, M., F. Spahn, M. Sremčević, and H. Salo (2005), Structures induced by small moonlets in Saturn's rings: Implications for the Cassini Mission, Geophys. Res. Lett., 32, L11205, doi:10.1029/2005GL022506.

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