On the Structure of Saturn's Rings.

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (3) References Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS On the Structure of Saturn's Rings. Cook, A. F. ; Franklin, F. A. Abstract This paper shows first that Saturn's rings will collapse to a layer one particle thick if only gravitational forces are acting. In order to produce a ring of finite thickness, we postulate the accumulation of an electrostatic charge on ring particles, probably due to collisions with electrons. An analysis of the case of complete charge separation, i.e., the case in which the ion cloud is of much greater vertical extent than the region of the ring particles, demands that the average size of the ring particles be so small that this model can be eliminated on observational grounds. However, an examination of the case of small separation of charge reveals that if the particles have radii less than or equal to 0.1 cm, a ring of finite thickness can be maintained. Since the presence of electrostatic forces seems the most likely means whereby the rings may be kept at a finite thickness, we suggest that the above figure does represent an average particle size. Publication: The Astronomical Journal Pub Date: 1965 DOI: 10.1086/109637 Bibcode: 1965AJ.....70S.135C full text sources ADS |