2015/10/26 by Nick Gorkavyi, Gorkavyi, Nick
Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #Astro and Planetary Science #Earth and Planetary Astrophysics (astro-ph.EP) #FOS: Physical sciences #Planetary Science and Exploration #Space Exploration and Technology
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1604.00878
openalex publication_date 2015/10/26 · openalex created_date 2022/10/01 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Brilliantov et al. (PNAS, 2015) propose a model for the size distribution\n~R-3 for small particles with radius R and ~exp(-(R/Rc)3) for large\nparticles, where Rc=5.5 m. In 1989 Longaretti found analytically ~R-3 for\nsmall particles and R-6 for large ones (2). The law R-6 also describes\nmoonlets with size ~ 0.1-1 km. Cut-off law from Brilliantov et al. model does\nnot describe moonlets and requires new mechanism for the origin of ~ 1 km size\nbodies. This model does not take into account the key effects of\nself-gravitation of large particles and differential rotation of the rings.\nLongaretti used a more accurate model of destruction of particles: "A relative\nincrease of the erosion/destruction rate of the large particles must take\nplace, because these particles have relative velocities of collision larger\nthan the dispersion velocity, due to the differential Keplerian motion". The\nnew model does not explain the difference between the rings and the satellites\nand the authors suggest that their calculations are applicable to the rings of\nthe Chariklo and Chiron. In fact, the Chariklo rings are not examples of\nplanetary rings, but proto-satellite disks. Simplified physical model that does\nnot describe moonlets and the outer boundary of the rings makes the new model\nnot a step forward but a step backwards in comparison with the papers of 20-30\nyears old.\n