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The F‐ring of Saturn
Author(s) -
Smoluchowski R.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/gl008i006p00623
Subject(s) - saturn , physics , rings of saturn , ring (chemistry) , planet , magnetosphere of saturn , astronomy , magnetic field , astrobiology , twist , orbit (dynamics) , magnetosphere , aerospace engineering , geometry , magnetopause , chemistry , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics , engineering , mathematics
One of the startling discoveries made by the Voyager Saturn flyby is the existence of a split and twisted F‐ring located outside of the well known A‐ring of this planet. It is proposed that the twist is the result of the action of Saturn's magnetic field on charged particles in the F‐ring. A quantitative argument shows that small particles will be deflected away from a circular orbit maintained by the larger particles. The two "shepherding" satellites prevent the small particles from being lost entirely from the ring.