Periodic microstructure in Saturn's rings A and B

• Published in: Geophysical research letters 2007-12, Vol.34 (24), p.n/a
• Main Authors: Thomson, Fraser S., Marouf, Essam A., Tyler, G. Leonard, French, Richard G., Rappoport, Nicole J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cassini; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; radio occultation; Saturn's rings
• ISSN: 0094-8276; 1944-8007
• DOI: 10.1029/2007GL032526

Diffraction of coherent radio waves transmitted by the Cassini spacecraft at 0.94‐ and 3.6‐cm wavelengths indicates the presence of fine‐scale structure in Saturn's rings A and B, characterized by a periodic radial variation in optical depth. Interpretation of the observed spectral signature in terms of a simple diffraction grating model yields estimates of the structural period λgr ≈ 100–250 meters and orientation ϕgr ≈ 0. In particular, two regions in Ring A of radial extent 123.05–123.4 × 103 km and 123.6–124.6 × 103 km yield average estimates of gr = 163 ± 6 meters and gr = 217 ± 8 meters, respectively. Three regions in Ring B of radial extent 92.1–92.6 × 103, 99.0–104.5 × 103 km, and 110.0–115.0 × 103 yield average estimates of gr = 115−15+20, 146 ± 14, and 250−75+150 meters, respectively. In all regions, the structure appears to be azimuthally symmetric with −3° ≤ ϕgr ≤ 3°.