Multiple components in narrow planetary rings.
The phase-space volume of regions of regular or trapped motion, for bounded or scattering systems with 2 degrees of freedom, respectively, displays universal properties. In particular, drastic reductions in the volume (gaps) are observed at specific values of a control parameter. Using the stability resonances we show that they, and not the mean-motion resonances, account for the position of these gaps. For more degrees of freedom, exciting these resonances divides the regions of trapped motion. For planetary rings, we demonstrate that this mechanism yields rings with multiple components.
Benet
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Instituto de Ciencias Físicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México. benet@fis.unam.mx
Merlo
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O