Approximate explicit stationary solutions to a Vlasov equation for planetary rings

Abstract

In this paper we consider a Vlasov or collisionless Boltzmann equation describing the dynamics of planetary rings. We propose a simple physical model, where the particles of the rings move under the gravitational Newtonian potential of two primary bodies. We neglect the gravitational forces between the particles. We use a perturbative technique, which allows to find explicit solutions at the first order and approximate solutions at the second order, by solving a set of two linear ordinary differential equations.