Skip to main content
Springer Nature Link
Log in

Physical studies of the planetary rings

  • Published:
Space Science Reviews Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this review paper, the physical properties of the Saturnian and Uranian rings as derived from ground-based observations are first discussed. Focus is then shifted to the study of the orbital dynamics of the ring particles. Numerical simulations of the evolutionary history of a system of colliding particles in differential rotation together with theoretical modelling of the inelastic collision processes are surveyed. In anticipation of the information returned from in situ measurements by space probes, interactions of the planetary rings with the interplanetary meteoroids and planetary magnetospheres are briefly considered. Finally, models of planetary ring origin are examined. In this connection, some recent work on the satellite resonant perturbation effects on the ring structure are also touched upon.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
€32.70 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price includes VAT (France)

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aksnes, K.: 1977, Nature 269, 783.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aksnes, K. and Franklin, F. A.: 1978, Icarus 36, 107.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alexander, A. F. O'D.: 1962, The Planet Saturn, The Macmillan Co., New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alfvén, H.: 1954, On the Origin of the Solar System, Oxford Univ. Press.

  • Alfvén, H.: 1970, Astrophys. Space Sci. 6, 161.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alfvén, H.: 1976a, Appl. Tech. Digest. 15, 2.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alfvén, H.: 1976b, Astrophys. Space Sci. 43, 97.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alfvén, H. and Arrhenius, G.: 1976, The Evolution of the Solar System, NASA SP-345.

  • Alfvén, H. and Fälthammar, C.-G.: 1963, Cosmical Electrodynamics, Fundamental Principles, Oxford Univ. Press.

  • Alfvén, H., Burkenroad, M., and Ip, W.-H.: 1974, Nature 250, 634.

    Google Scholar 

  • Allen, D. A. and Murdock, T. L.: 1971, Icarus 14, 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, J. D., Null, G. W., and Wong, S. K.: 1974, J. Geophys. Res. 79, 3661.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aumann, H. H. and Kieffer, H. H.: 1973, Astrophys. J. 186, 305.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baxter, D. C. and Thompson, W. B.: 1971, in T. Gehrels (ed.), Physical Studies of the Minor Planets, NASA SP-267, p. 319.

  • Baxter, D. C. and Thompson, W. B.: 1973, Astrophys. J. 183, 323.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bhattacharyya, J. C. and Bappu, M. K.: 1977, Nature 270, 503.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bhattacharyya, J. C. and Kuppuswamy, K.: 1977, Nature 267, 332.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bihring, J. P., Langevin, Y., Maurette, M., Meunier, R., Jouffrey, B., and Jouret, C.: 1974, Earth Planetary Sci. Letter, 22, 205.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blamont, J.: 1973, in (F. D. Palluconi and G. H. Pettengil (eds.), The Rings of Saturn NASA SP-343 p. 125.

  • Bobrov, M. S.: 1970, in A. Dollfus (ed.), Surfaces and Interiors of Planets and Satellites, Academic press, New York, p. 377.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bostrom, R.: 1964, J. Geophys. Res. 69, 4983.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brahic, A.: 1975, Icarus 25, 452.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brahic, A.: 1977, Astron. Astrophys. 54, 895.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brahic, A. and Hénon, M.: 1977, Astron. Astrophys. 59, 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, L. W.: 1975, Astrophys. J. 198, L89.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, L. W.: 1976, Astrophys. J. 206, L179.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, R. A.: 1978, Astrophys. J. 224, L97.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, R. A. and Yung, Y. L.: 1976, in T. Gehrels (ed.), Jupiter Univ. of Arizona Press, p. 1102.

  • Brown, W. L., Lanzerotti, L. J., Poate, J. M., and Angustyniak, W. M.: 1978, Phys. Rev. Lett. 40, 1027.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cameron, A. G. W.: 1975, Icarus 24, 280.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cameron, A. G. W. and Pollack, J. B.: 1976, in T. Gehrels (ed.), Jupiter, Univ. of Arizona Press, p. 61.

  • Carmichael, H.: 1958, Ann. Astrophys. 21, 231.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheng, A. F. and Lanzerotti, L. J.: 1978, J. Geophys. Res. 83, 2597.

    Google Scholar 

  • Colombo, G., Goldreich, P., and Harris, A. W.: 1976, Nature 264, 344.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cook, A. F. and Franklin, F. A.: 1970, Astron. J. 75, 195.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cook, A. F., Franklin, F. A., and Palluconi, F. D.: 1973, Icarus 18, 317.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cragg, T. A.: 1954, Sky Telesc. 13, 382.

    Google Scholar 

  • Danielsson, L.: 1973, Astrophys. Space Sci. 24, 459.

    Google Scholar 

  • De, B. R.: 1978, The Moon and the Planets 28, 339.

    Google Scholar 

  • DeForest, S. E.: 1972, J. Geophys. Res. 77, 651.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dennefeld, M.: 1974, in A. Woszcyk and C. Iwaniszewska (eds.), IAU Symp. ‘Exploration of the Planetary Systems’, 65, 471.

  • Dermott, S. F.: 1973, Nature 244, 18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dermott, S. F. and Gold, T.: 1977, nature 267, 590.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dollfus, A.: 1970, Icarus 11, 101.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elliot, J. L., Dunham, E., and Mink, D.: 1977a, Nature 267, 330.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elliot, J. L., Veverka, J., and Millis, R. L.: 1977b, Nature 265, 610.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elliot, J. L., Dunham, E., Wasserman, L. H., Millis, R. L., and Churms, J.: 1978, Astron. J. 83, 980.

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans, D. S.: 1975, in B. Hultqvist and L. Stenflo (eds.), Physics of the Hot Plasma in the Magnetosphere, Plenum Press, New York and London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Feibelman, W. A.: 1967, Nature, 214, 793.

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Fechtig, H., Grün, E., and Morfill, G.: 1979, Planetary Space Sci. 27, 511.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferrin, I.: 1974, Icarus 22, 159.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferrin, I.: 1975a, Icarus 26, 45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferrin, I.: 1975b, Astrophys. Space Sci. 33, 453.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferrin, I.: 1978, Nature 271, 528.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fessenkov, V. G.: 1927, Astron. Nachr. 229, 227.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fillius, W.: 1976, in T. Gehrels (ed.), Jupiter, Univ. of Arizona Press, p. 896.

  • Focas, J. H. and Dollfus, A.: 1969, Astron. Astrophys. 2, 251.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fountain, J. W. and Larson, S. M.: 1978, Icarus 36, 92.

    Google Scholar 

  • Franklin, F. A.: 1974, in F. D. Palluconi and G. H. Pettengill (eds.), The Rings of Saturn, NASA SP-343, p. 117.

  • Franklin, F. A. and Colombo, G.: 1970, Icarus 12, 338.

    Google Scholar 

  • Franklin, F. A. and Colombo, G.: 1978, Icarus 33, 270.

    Google Scholar 

  • Franklin, F. A. and Cook, A. F.: 1965, Astron. J. 70, 704.

    Google Scholar 

  • Franklin, F. A., Colombo, G., and Cook, A. F.: 1971, Icarus 15, 80.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fredricks, R. W. and Scarf, F. L.: 1972, Paper presented at ESLAB Symp. Noordwijk, Holland, Sept. 1972.

  • Giuli, R. T.: 1968, Icarus, 8, 301.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gold, T.: 1975, Icarus 25, 489.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldreich, P. and Nicholson, P.: 1977, Nature 269, 783.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldreich, P. and Tremaine, S.: 1978a, Icarus 34, 227.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldreich, P. and Tremaine, S.: 1978b, Icarus 34, 240.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldsborough, G. R.: 1921, Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. London A222, 101.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldsborough, G. R.: 1941, Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. London A239, 183.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldstein, R. M. and Morris, G. A.: 1973, Icarus 20, 260.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldstein, R. M., Green, R. R., Pettengill, G. H., and Campbell, D. B.: 1977, Icarus 30, 104.

    Google Scholar 

  • Graboske, H. C., Pollack, J. B., Grossman, A. S., and Olness, R. J.: 1975, Astrophys. J. 199, 265.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greenberg, R.: 1978, Icarus 33, 62.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greenberg, R., Davis, D. R., Hartmann, W. K., and Chapman, C. R.: 1977, Icarus 30, 769.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guerin, P.: 1970, Sky Telesc. 40, 88.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hämeen-Anttila, K. A.: 1975, Astrophys. Space Sci. 37, 309.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hämeen-Antilla, K. A.: 1976, Astrophys. Space Sci. 43, 145.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hämeen-Anttila, K. A.: 1977a, Astrophys. Space Sci. 46, 133.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hämeen-Anttila, K. A.: 1977b, Astrophys. Space Sci. 51, 429.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamlin, D. A., Karplus, R., Vik, R. C., and Watson, K. M.: 1961, J. Geophys. Res. 66, 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harris, A. W.: 1975, Icarus 24, 190.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayashi, C., Nakazawa, J., and Adachi, I.: 1977, Publ. Astron. Soc. Japan 29, 163.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heppenheimer, T. A.: 1978, Astron. Astrophys. 70, 457.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hill, J. R. and Mendis, D. A.: 1979, The Moon and Planets 21, 3.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoyt, W. G.: 1978, Sky Telesc., April, 284.

  • Humes, D. H.: 1976, in T. Gehrels (ed.), Jupiter, Univ. of Arizona Press, p. 1052.

  • Ip, W.-H.: 1974, Astrophys. Space Sci. 31, 57.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ip, W.-H.: 1977, Proc. 8th Lunar Sci. Conf., p. 67.

  • Ip, W.-H.: 1978a, Nature 272, 802.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ip, W.-H.: 1978b, Astron. Astrophys. 70, 435.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jeffreys, H.: 1947a, Monthly Notices Roy. Astron. Soc. 107, 260.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jeffreys, H.: 1947b, Monthly Notices Roy. Astron. Soc. 107, 263.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kawata, Y. and Irvine, W. M.: 1974, in A. Woszczyk and C. Iwaniszewska (eds.), ‘Exploration of the Solar System’, IAU Symp. 65, 441.

  • Kennel, C.: 1973, Space Sci. Rev. 14, 511.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kieffer, H. H.: 1974, in F. D. Palluconi and G. H. Pettengill (eds.), The Rings of Saturn, p. 51.

  • Kiladze, R. I.: 1969, Byull. Abastuman, Astrofiz, Obs. 37, 151.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koutchmy, S.: 1975, Icarus 25, 131.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuiper, G. P., Cruikshank, D. P., and Fink, U.: 1970, Sky Telesc. 39, 14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kupo, I., Mekler, Y., and Eviatar, A.: 1976, Astrophys. J. 205, L51.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, J. S.: 1972, Icarus 16, 241.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lucke, R. L.: 1978, Nature 272, 148.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lumme, K. and Irvine, W. M.: 1976, Astrophys. J. 204, L55.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lumme, K., Esposito, L. W., Irvine, W. M., and Baum, W. A.: 1977, Astrophys. J. 216, L123.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lynden-Bell, D. and Pringle, J. E.: 1974, Monthly Notices Roy. Astron. Soc. 168, 603.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maggini, M.: 1937, Ricerca Scient. Sen 2, 5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mogro-Campero, A.: 1976, in T. Gehrels (ed.), Jupiter, Univ. of Arizona Press, p. 1190.

  • McDonald, F. B. and Trainor, J. H.: 1976, in T. Gehrels (ed.), Jupiter, Univ. of Arizona Press, p. 961.

  • McLaughlin, W. I. and Talbot, T. D.: 1977, Monthly Notices Roy. Astron. Soc. 179, 619.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mendis, D. A. and Axford, W. I.: 1974, Ann. Rev. Earth Planet. Sci. 2, 419.

    Google Scholar 

  • Millis, R. L. and Wasserman, L. H.: 1978, Astron. J. 83, 993.

    Google Scholar 

  • Millis, R. L., Wasserman, L. H., and Birch, P. V.: 1977, Nature 267, 331.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore, P., Moseley, T., and Gruan, P.: 1967, Irish Astron. J. 8, 15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morrison, D.: 1974, Icarus 22, 57.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morrison, D. and Cruikshank, D. P.: 1974, Space Sci. Rev. 15, 641.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nicholson, P. D., Persson, S. E., Matthews, K., Goldreich, P., and Neugebauer, G.: 1978, Astron J. 83, 1240.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nishida, A.: 1976, J. Geophys. Res. 81, 1771.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pilcher, C. B., Chapman, C. R., Lebofsky, L. A., and Kieffer, H. H.: 1970, Science 167, 1372.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pollack, J. B.: 1975, Space Sci. Rev. 18, 3.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pollack, J. B. and Reynolds, R. T.: 1974, Icarus 21, 248.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pollack, J. B., Summers, A., and Baldwin, B.: 1975, Icarus 20, 263.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pollack, J. B., Grossman, A. S., Moore, R., and Graboske, H. C.: 1976, Icarus 29, 35.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reitsema, H. J., Beebe, R. F., and Smith, R. A.: 1976, Astron. J. 81, 209.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roche, E.: 1847, Acad. Sci. Letters Montpellier, 243.

  • Roederer, J. G., Acuña, M. H., and Ness, N. F.: 1977, J. Geophys. Res. 82, 5187.

    Google Scholar 

  • Safronov, V. S.: 1966, Soviet Astron. J. 9, 987.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schoenberg, E.: 1921, Suomal.-ugr. Seur. Aikak, A16, No. 5.

  • Seeliger, H. H.: 1887, Abh. Bayer. Akad. Wiss. 2Kl 16, 467.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sentman, D. D. and Van Allen, J. A.: 1976, J. Geophys. Res. 81, 1350.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sherman, J. C.: 1973, Astrophys. Space Sci. 24, 487.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simpson, J. A. and McKibben, R. B.: 1976, in T. Gehrels (ed.), Jupiter, Univ. of Arizona, Press, p. 738.

  • Sinton, W. M.: 1977, Science 198, 503.

    Google Scholar 

  • Siscoe, G. L.: 1978, in C. F. Kennel, L. J. Lanzerotti, and E. N. Parker (eds.), Solar System Plasma Physics, North-Holland, Amsterdam, Vol. II, p. 319.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, B. A.: 1977, Nature 268, 32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, B. A., Cook, A. F., Feibelman, R. F., and Beebe, R. F.: 1975, Icarus 25, 466.

    Google Scholar 

  • Soter, S.: 1974, Preprint, Cornell University Report 462.

  • Steigmann, G. A.: 1978, Nature 274, 454.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, G. E.: 1973, J. British Astron. Assoc. 83, 352.

    Google Scholar 

  • Texereau, J.: 1967, Sky Telesc. 33, 226.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trulsen, J.: 1971, Astrophys. Space Sci. 12, 329.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trulsen, J.: 1972a, Astrophys. Space Sci. 17, 241.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trulsen, J.: 1972b, Astrophys. Space Sci. 18, 3.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trulsen, J.: 1972c, Astrophys. Space Sci. 17, 330.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trulsen, J.: 1976, in H. Elsasser and H. Fechtig (eds.), Interplanetary Dust and Zodical Light, Springer-Verlag, p. 416.

  • Van Allen, J. A.: 1976, in T. Gehrels (ed.), Jupiter, Univ. of Arizona Press, p. 928.

  • Van Allen, J. A.: 1977, Highlights of Astronomy 4, 195.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weiser, H., Vitz, R. C., and Moos, H. W.: 1977, Science 197, 755.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wiesel, W.: 1971, Icarus 15, 373.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilkening, L. L.: 1978, Die Naturwiss. 65, 73.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zmuda, A. J. and Armstrong, J. C.: 1974, J. Geophys. Res. 79, 4611.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Max Planck Institut für Aeronomie, 3, Katlenburg-Lindau, F.R.G.

    W. -H. Ip

Authors
  1. W. -H. Ip
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ip, W.H. Physical studies of the planetary rings. Space Sci Rev 26, 39–96 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00212598

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00212598

Keywords