Abstract
Saturn's rings consist of icy particles of various sizes ranging from millimeters to several meters. Particles may aggregate into ephemeral elongated clumps known as self-gravity wakes in regions where the surface mass density and epicyclic frequency give a Toomre critical wavelength which is much larger than the largest individual particles (Julian and Toomre 1966). Optical depth measurements at different wavelengths can be used to constrain the sizes of individual particles (Zebker et al. 1985, Marouf et al. 1983) while measurements of optical depths spanning many viewing geometries can be used to determine the properties of self-gravity wakes (Colwell et al. 2006, 2007, Hedman et al. 2007, Nicholson and Hedman 2010, Jerousek et al. 2016). Studies constraining the parameters of the assumed power-law particle size distribution have been attempted (Zebker et al. 1985, Marouf et al. 1983) but have not yet accounted for the presence of self-gravity wakes or the much larger elongated particle aggregates seen in Cassini Imaging Subsystem (ISS) images and commonly referred to as "straw". We use a multitude of Cassini stellar occultations measured by UVIS (Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph) and VIMS (Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer) together with Cassini's RSS (Radio Science Sub System) X-band, Ka-band, and S-band radio occultations to better constrain the particle size distribution throughout Saturn's main ring system, including regions where self-gravity wakes have a significant effect on the measured optical depth of the rings.
Notes
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Graduation Date
2018
Semester
Spring
Advisor
Colwell, Joshua
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
College
College of Sciences
Department
Physics
Degree Program
Physics; Planetary Sciences
Format
application/pdf
Identifier
CFE0007019
URL
http://purl.fcla.edu/fcla/etd/CFE0007019
Language
English
Release Date
May 2018
Length of Campus-only Access
None
Access Status
Doctoral Dissertation (Open Access)
STARS Citation
Jerousek, Richard, "Determining the Small-scale Structure and Particle Properties in Saturn's Rings from Stellar and Radio Occultations" (2018). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 5840.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/etd/5840