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arXiv 1111.2568astro-ph.EP
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土星E环的三维结构

The three-dimensional structure of Saturn's E ring

M. M. Hedman, J. A. Burns, D. P. Hamilton, M. R. Showalter

摘要:

土星弥漫的E环由许多微小(微米和亚微米)的水冰颗粒组成,分布在土卫一和土卫六的轨道之间。各种引力和非引力扰动这些粒子的轨道,导致环的局部粒子密度随着与行星的距离、环平面以上的高度、时角和时间而显著变化。利用卡西尼号航天器在2005年和2006年获得的遥感数据,我们研究了当太阳从南方以高仰角(> 15度)照射环时E环的三维结构。这些观测结果表明,环的垂直厚度随着离土卫二轨道的距离而增加,其峰值亮度密度随着离土卫二距离的增加而从土星赤道平面的南部向北部移动。这些数据还揭示了土卫二半长轴周围土星赤道面附近粒子密度的局部耗尽。最后,检测到的径向亮度分布和环的垂直厚度作为经度相对于太阳的函数的变化。可能的物理机制和过程可能是造成这些结构的原因,包括太阳辐射压力,周围等离子体的变化,以及与土星阴影相关的电磁扰动。

英文摘要:

Saturn's diffuse E ring consists of many tiny (micron and sub-micron) grains of water ice distributed between the orbits of Mimas and Titan. Various gravitational and non-gravitational forces perturb these particles' orbits, causing the ring's local particle density to vary noticeably with distance from the planet, height above the ring-plane, hour angle and time. Using remote-sensing data obtained by the Cassini spacecraft in 2005 and 2006, we investigate the E-ring's three-dimensional structure during a time when the Sun illuminated the rings from the south at high elevation angles (> 15 degrees). These observations show that the ring's vertical thickness grows with distance from Enceladus' orbit and its peak brightness density shifts from south to north of Saturn's equator plane with increasing distance from the planet. These data also reveal a localized depletion in particle density near Saturn's equatorial plane around Enceladus' semi-major axis. Finally, variations are detected in the radial brightness profile and the vertical thickness of the ring as a function of longitude relative to the Sun. Possible physical mechanisms and processes that may be responsible for some of these structures include solar radiation pressure, variations in the ambient plasma, and electromagnetic perturbations associated with Saturn's shadow.

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