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Published in

IOP Publishing, The Planetary Science Journal, 11(4), p. 216, 2023

DOI: 10.3847/psj/ad05ce

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Dynamical Interactions and Mass Loss within the Uranian System

Journal article published in 2023 by Stephen R. Kane ORCID, Zhexing Li ORCID
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.

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Data provided by SHERPA/RoMEO

Abstract

Abstract The origin and evolution of planetary rings and moons remains an active area of study, particularly as they relate to the impact history and volatile inventory of the outer solar system. The Uranian system contains a complex system of rings that are coplanar with the highly inclined planetary equator relative to the orbital plane. Uranus also harbors five primary regular moons that play an important role in the distribution of material that surrounds the planet. Here we present the results of a dynamical simulation suite for the Uranian system, intended to explore the interaction between the five primary regular moons and particles within the system. We identify regions of extreme mass loss within 40 planetary radii of Uranus, including eccentricity excitation of particle orbits at resonance locations that can promote moonlet formation within the rings. We calculate a total dynamical particle mass-loss rate of 35% within 0.5 × 106 yr and 40% mass loss within 107 yr. We discuss the implications for postimpact material, including dynamical truncation of stable ring locations and/or locations of moon formation promoted by dynamical excitation of ring material.