A Numerical Study of a Gravitating System of Colliding Particles: Applications to the Dynamics of Saturn's Rings and to the Formation of the Solar System
Abstract
We consider numerically a three-dimensional system of particles moving in the gravitational field of a central mass point and interacting through inelastic collisions. After a very fast flattering, the system reaches a quasiequilibrium state in which there are still collisions and the rings tend to a finite thickness of a few times the mean size of the particles.
- Publication:
-
Icarus
- Pub Date:
- July 1975
- DOI:
- 10.1016/0019-1035(75)90010-X
- Bibcode:
- 1975Icar...25..452B
- Keywords:
-
- Astronomical Models;
- Gravitational Fields;
- Mathematical Models;
- Particle Collisions;
- Saturn Rings;
- Solar System;
- Angular Momentum;
- Celestial Mechanics;
- Digital Simulation;
- Dynamic Characteristics;
- Galactic Evolution;
- Galactic Nuclei;
- Inelastic Collisions;
- Molecular Collisions;
- Natural Satellites