N-body Simulations of Planetary Rings

Abstract

We present the formation and evolution of a structure in particles obtained from a local N-body simulation of a dense planetary ring like Saturn's ring. Our simulations show in a particle system the spontaneous formation of a spatial structure like wakes, clumps, and a structure which could be induced by the viscous overstability. Such a formation depends on parameters characterizing a ring system: the wake is likely to form in Saturn's ring and the existence of the wake is consistent with observations. The viscous overstability would be a good candidate for the explanation of subring structures in the ring.