Origin and Evolution of Saturn’s Ring System Chapter 17 of the book “Saturn After Cassini-Huygens” Saturn from Cassini-Huygens, Dougherty, M.K.; Esposito, L.W.; Krimigis, S.M. (Ed.) (2009) 537-575 Sébastien CHARNOZ * Université Paris Diderot/CEA/CNRS Paris, France Luke DONES Southwest Research Institute Colorado, USA Larry W. ESPOSITO University of Colorado Colorado, USA Paul R. ESTRADA SETI Institute California, USA Matthew M. HEDMAN Cornell University New York, USA (*): to whom correspondence should be addressed :
[email protected] 1 ABSTRACT: The origin and long-term evolution of Saturn’s rings is still an unsolved problem in modern planetary science. In this chapter we review the current state of our knowledge on this long- standing question for the main rings (A, Cassini Division, B, C), the F Ring, and the diffuse rings (E and G). During the Voyager era, models of evolutionary processes affecting the rings on long time scales (erosion, viscous spreading, accretion, ballistic transport, etc.) had suggested that Saturn’s rings are not older than 10 8 years. In addition, Saturn’s large system of diffuse rings has been thought to be the result of material loss from one or more of Saturn’s satellites. In the Cassini era, high spatial and spectral resolution data have allowed progress to be made on some of these questions. Discoveries such as the “propellers” in the A ring, the shape of ring-embedded moonlets, the clumps in the F Ring, and Enceladus’ plume provide new constraints on evolutionary processes in Saturn’s rings. At the same time, advances in numerical simulations over the last 20 years have opened the way to realistic models of the rings’ fine scale structure, and progress in our understanding of the formation of the Solar System provides a better-defined historical context in which to understand ring formation.