Magnetospheric environments of outer planet rings - influence of Saturn's axially symmetric magnetic field

Journal Article · Wed Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1987 · Icarus; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0019-1035(87)90167-9· OSTI ID:5838215

Hood, L L

Saturn's main rings exist within a zone of negligible magnetospheric losses and surface alteration effects, substantially due to the solid-body absorption of inwardly diffusing magnetospheric particles. This process is presently shown to be especially efficient in the inner magnetosphere of Saturn, due to the near-axial symmetry of the planetary magnetic field relative to the equatorial rotation plane; under the assumption of comparable diffusion rates, the inward magnetospheric particle transport is far more inhibited in the inner Saturnian magnetosphere than in the same regions of Jupiter and Uranus, even when only rings of comparable widths and depths are considered. In light of this, ring particle surface exposure to the ion fluxes of the radiation belt remains a prepossessing rationale for low Uranian ring albedos. 86 references.

• Research Organization: Arizona Univ., Tucson
• OSTI ID: 5838215
• Journal Information: Icarus; (United States), Journal Name: Icarus; (United States) Vol. 71; ISSN ICRSA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640107* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Planetary Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ATMOSPHERES
JUPITER PLANET
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
PLANETARY ATMOSPHERES
PLANETARY MAGNETOSPHERES
PLANETS
RINGS
SATURN PLANET
URANUS PLANET