Long-term dynamical evolution of Pallene (Saturn XXXIII) and its diffuse, dusty ring

Abstract

ABSTRACT The distinctive set of Saturnian small satellites, Aegaeon, Methone, Anthe, and Pallene, constitutes an excellent laboratory to understand the evolution of systems immersed in co-orbital dusty rings/arcs, subjected to perturbations from larger satellites and non-gravitational forces. In this work, we carried out a comprehensive numerical exploration of the long-term evolution of Pallene and its ring. Through frequency map analysis, we characterized the current dynamical state around Pallene. A simple tidal evolution model serves to set a time frame for the current orbital configuration of the system. With detailed short- and long-term N-body simulations we determine whether Pallene is currently in resonance with one or more of six of Saturn’s major moons. We analysed a myriad of resonant arguments extracted from the direct and indirect parts of the disturbing function, finding that Pallene is not in mean motion resonance from the present up to 5 Myr into the future; none the less, some resonant arguments exhibit intervals of libration and circulation at different time-scales and moon pairings. We studied the dynamical evolution of micrometric particles forming the ring, considering gravitational and non-gravitational forces. Non-gravitational forces are responsible for particles vertical excursions and outward migration. By estimating the satellite’s mass production rate, we find that Pallene could be responsible for keeping its ring in steady-state only if it is mainly composed of large micrometre-sized particles. If mainly composed of particles with a few micrometres for which Pallene is the only source, the ring will spread out, both radially and vertically, until it finally disappears.