It is shown that a configuration of alternating rings and moonlets could be the natural outcome of an evolutionary history of Uranus starting from a simple initial condition. In the evolution of the system, the ring material was confined in very narrow zones due to the shepherding mechanism. The tidally-evolving shepherding moonlets were captured into stable resonance configurations with the outer Uranian satellites. This scenario is not consistent with the hypothesis that the ring system is a young and short-lived phenomemon, since its evolution was governed by tidal orbital decays which require long timescales. The system around Uranus could be the typical end-product of tidal evolution and breakup of a satellite which occurred many times in the history of the solar system and will occur again to objects like Phobos and Triton.
Titolo: | Tidal breakup and origin of the Uranian ring system |
Autori: | Farinella P.; Milani A.; Nobili A. M.; Paolicchi P. |
Autori interni: | |
Anno del prodotto: | 1984 |
Abstract: | It is shown that a configuration of alternating rings and moonlets could be the natural outcome of an evolutionary history of Uranus starting from a simple initial condition. In the evolution of the system, the ring material was confined in very narrow zones due to the shepherding mechanism. The tidally-evolving shepherding moonlets were captured into stable resonance configurations with the outer Uranian satellites. This scenario is not consistent with the hypothesis that the ring system is a young and short-lived phenomemon, since its evolution was governed by tidal orbital decays which require long timescales. The system around Uranus could be the typical end-product of tidal evolution and breakup of a satellite which occurred many times in the history of the solar system and will occur again to objects like Phobos and Triton. |
Appare nelle tipologie: | 2.1 Contributo in volume (Capitolo o Saggio) |