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Title:
The viscous overstability, nonlinear wavetrains, and finescale structure in dense planetary rings
Authors:
Latter, Henrik N.; Ogilvie, Gordon I.
Affiliation:
AA(LRA, École Normale Supérieure, 24 rue Lhomond, Paris 75005, France; DAMTP, University of Cambridge, Wilberforce Rd., Cambridge CB3 0WA, United Kingdom), AB(DAMTP, University of Cambridge, Wilberforce Rd., Cambridge CB3 0WA, United Kingdom)
Publication:
Icarus, Volume 202, Issue 2, p. 565-583. (Icarus Homepage)
Publication Date:
08/2009
Origin:
ELSEVIER
DOI:
10.1016/j.icarus.2009.03.011
Bibliographic Code:
2009Icar..202..565L

Abstract

This paper addresses the fine-scale axisymmetric structure exhibited in Saturn's A and B-rings. We aim to explain both the periodic microstructure on 150-220 m, revealed by the Cassini UVIS and RSS instruments, and the irregular variations in brightness on 1-10 km, reported by the Cassini ISS. We propose that the former structures correspond to the peaks and troughs of the nonlinear wavetrains that form naturally in a viscously overstable disk. The latter variations on longer scales may correspond to modulations and defects in the wavetrains' amplitudes and wavelength. We explore these ideas using a simple hydrodynamical model which captures the correct qualitative behaviour of a disk of inelastically colliding particles, while also permitting us to make progress with analytic and semi-analytic techniques. Specifically, we calculate a family of travelling nonlinear density waves and determine their stability properties. Detailed numerical simulations that confirm our basic results will appear in a following paper.
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