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The origin of the eccentricities of the rings of UranusThe effect of gravitational perturbations from a nearby satellite on the eccentricity e of a narrow particulate ring is considered. The perturbations near a resonance in an eccentric ring may be divided into corotation and Lindblad terms. For small e, the corotation terms damp e, whereas the Lindblad terms excite e. In the absence of saturation the corotation terms win by a small margin, and e damps. However, if the perturbations open gaps at the strongest resonances, then the Lindblad terms win, and e grows. This result offers an explanation for the existence of both circular and eccentric rings around Uranus. It is also shown that eccentricity changes induced by circular rings on eccentric satellite orbits are similar to those induced by satellites with circular orbits on eccentric rings.
Document ID
19810043457
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Goldreich, P.
(California Institute of Technology Pasadena, Calif., United States)
Tremaine, S.
(Institute for Advanced Study Princeton, N.J., United States)
Date Acquired
August 11, 2013
Publication Date
February 1, 1981
Publication Information
Publication: Astrophysical Journal
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Exploration
Accession Number
81A27861
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF PHY-79-19884
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF AST-79-24978
CONTRACT_GRANT: NGL-05-002-003
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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