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Electrostatic forces in planetary ringsThe average charge on a particle in a particle-plasma cloud, the plasma potential inside the cloud, and the Coulomb force acting on the particle are calculated. The net repulsive electrostatic force on a particle depends on the plasma density, temperature, density of particles, particle size, and the gradient of the particle density. In a uniformly dense ring the electrostatic repulsion is zero. It is also shown that the electrostatic force acts like a pressure force, that even a collisionless ring can be stable against gravitational collapse, and that a finite ring thickness does not necessarily imply a finite velocity dispersion. A simple criterion for the importance of electrostatic forces in planetary rings is derived which involves the calculation of the vertical ring thickness which would result if only electrostatic repulsion were responsible for the finite ring thickness. Electrostatic forces are entirely negligible in the main rings of Saturn and the E and G rings. They may also be negligible in the F ring. However, the Uranian rings and Jupiter's ring seem to be very much influenced by electrostatic repulsion. In fact, electrostatic forces could support a Jovian ring which is an order of magnitude more dense than observed.
Document ID
19880039814
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Goertz, C. K.
(Iowa Univ. Iowa City, IA, United States)
Shan, Linhua
(Iowa, University Iowa City, United States)
Havnes, O.
(Nordlyobservatoriet Tromso, Norway)
Date Acquired
August 13, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1988
Publication Information
Publication: Geophysical Research Letters
Volume: 15
ISSN: 0094-8276
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Exploration
Accession Number
88A27041
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-871
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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