Production and fate of the G ring arc particles due to Aegaeon (Saturn LIII)

Autor(es)

Madeira, Gustavo ^[1] ; Sfair, R. ^[1] ; Mourao, D. C. ^[1] ; Giuliatti Winter, S. M. ^[1]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Estadual Paulista, UNESP, Grp Dinam Orbital & Planetol, BR-12516410 Guaratingueta - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society; v. 475, n. 4, p. 5474-5479, APR 2018.
• Citações Web of Science: 2

Resumo

The G ring arc hosts the smallest satellite of Saturn, Aegaeon, observed with a set of images sent by Cassini spacecraft. Along with Aegaeon, the arc particles are trapped in a 7:6 corotation eccentric resonance with the satellite Mimas. Due to this resonance, both Aegaeon and the arc material are confined to within 60 degrees of corotating longitudes. The arc particles are dust grains which can have their orbital motions severely disturbed by the solar radiation force. Our numerical simulations showed that Aegaeon is responsible for depleting the arc dust population by removing them through collisions. The solar radiation force hastens these collisions by removing most of the 10 mu m sized grains in less than 40 yr. Some debris released from Aegaeon's surface by meteoroid impacts can populate the arc. However, it would take 30 000 yr for Aegaeon to supply the observed amount of arc material, and so it is unlikely that Aegaeon alone is the source of dust in the arc. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 16/24488-0 - Estudo da evolução orbital de partículas em ressonância de Lindblad e corrotação e sob influência de satélites coorbitais: aplicação aos arcos planetários
• Beneficiário: Gustavo Oliveira Madeira
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Mestrado