Applied Maths Seminar: Latter -- Fine-scale structure in Saturn’s rings

APPLIED MATHEMATICS SEMINAR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY 

Speaker: Dr Henrik Latter, University of Cambridge

Title: Fine-scale structure of Saturn’s rings

DATE: Wednesday, March 28
TIME: 2:00pm 
LOCATION: University of Sydney, Eastern Avenue Lecture Theatre (Level 1) 

Abstract: 

The rings of Saturn are composed of trillions of icy boulders ranging in size from a few
centimetres to a few metres.  These particles undergo, on average, several very gentle
collisions per orbit.  In fact, their average impact velocity is barely 2 mm/s! But
these seemingly innocuous interactions, when allied with gravity, can have considerable
collective effects.  Over relatively short time-scales they sculpt the disk into
irregular radial patterns.  

This talk presents an introduction to the physics of planetary rings and concentrates on
the theory of fine-scale structure formation.  In particular, emphasis is placed on the
difficult modelling issues thrown up by a "gas" of infrequently colliding inelastic
particles.  We find that a planetary ring is in a unique regime which hydrodynamical
models cannot adequately capture.

http://www.maths.usyd.edu.au/u/AppliedSeminar
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