The two Voyager spacecraft discovered small-scale, radially-extended features in the central region of Saturn's B Ring. These "spokes" are "clouds" of submicron-size ice grains which are electrostatically levitated above the ring plane and which appear to travel about Saturn in Keplerian orbits (Smith et al., 1981, Science 212, 163-191). This research project is a study of the dynamical and physical properties of spokes as deduced from Voyager Saturn ring images. An analysis of the orbital motion of two dynamically-anomalous spokes, in particular, has set limits on the charge-to-mass ratios of spoke particles at various times during their dynamical evolution. These two spokes have charge-to-mass ratios of at least -60 ± 3 C kg⁻¹ while corotating with Saturn, and charge-to-mass ratios of no more than -22 ± 2 C kg⁻¹ while orbiting Saturn at Keplerian velocities. Additionally, charge decay on the grains of these spokes, caused by solar UV photoemission, has allowed a lower limit of 0.10 ± 0.03 μm to be placed on the range of radii for spoke particles. In a study of spoke photometry, a single-scattering analysis of the 0.470-μm phase function for spokes has set a mean radius for the dominant scatterers (at this wavelength) of 0.22 ± 0.02 μm. Also, a multispectral analysis of spokes has determined the spectral index of the size distribution for spoke particles to be 2.1 ± 0.2. These dynamical and physical properties of spokes have been combined with theoretical explanations of spoke activity to develop a phenomenological model of spoke formation and evolution. The transport of angular momentum within the rings due to the radial motion of spoke grains is shown to be the most significant effect of spoke activity on the dynamical evolution of the B Ring, as was predicted by Goertz et al. (1986, Nature 320, 141-143). The radial mass transport velocity due to highly-charged spokes is -1 x 10⁻⁹ m s⁻¹. The subsequent spreading time for the B Ring is 600 million years, which is significantly less than the 4.6 billion-year age of the solar system.

Thèse : Sciences mathématiques : Paris, Faculté des sciences : 1854. / Thèse de mécanique : Mouvement dans un milieu résistant d'un point matériel attiré par un centre fixe, p. [3]-34. Thèse d'astronomie : De la figure de l'anneau de Saturne, p. [35]-52. Titre provenant de l'écran- titre.

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Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2004. / Supervisor: John Lacy. Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Also available from UMI.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Texas at El Paso, 2009. / Title from title screen. Vita. CD-ROM. Includes bibliographical references. Also available online.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2008. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Orientador: Ernesto Vieira Neto / Coorientador: Stéfan Renner / Banca: Silvia Maria Giuliatti Winter / Banca: Rafael Sfair de Oliveira / Banca: Elbert Einstein Nehrer Macau / Banca: Nelson Callegari Júnior / Resumo: Desde 2004, as imagens obtidas pelas câmeras da sonda Cassin têm revelado a existência de vários pequenos satélites no sistema de Saturno. Três desses pequenos satélites estão dentro de arcos de partículas. Enquanto Aegaeon, Methone e Anthe e seus arcos são conhecidos por estarem em ressonância de corrotação 7:6, 14:15 e 10:15, respectivamente, com Mimas, a origem desses arcos é desconhecida. Logo, este trabalho investiga um possível processo de captura em ressonância de corrotação, que envolve o aumento da excentricidade de um satélite perturbador. Assim, através de simulações numéricas e estudos analíticos, nós mostramos um cenário que a excitação da excentricidade de Mimas poderia capturar partículas em ressonância de corrotação 7:6 14:15 e 10:11 com Mimas, fornecendo uma possível explicação para a origem dos arcos de Saturno. Outro objetivo deste trabalho é analisar uma possível região de origem de Aegaeon. Pois, há uma possibilidade de que a pequena lua Aegaeon tenha sido formada em outra região do sistema de Saturno diferente daquela que ela se encontra atualmente. Assim, também através de simulações numéricas e estudos analíticos, verificamos se a perturbação de Jano e Epimeteu através da ressonância de corrotação e Lindblad na borda externa do anel A é responsável pela migração de objetos dessa borda / Abstract: Since 2004, the images obtained by the Cassini spacecraft on-board cameras have revealed the existence of several small satellites in Saturn system. Three of these small satellites are embedded in arcs of particles. While Aegaeon, Methone and Anthe and their arcs are known to be in 7:6, 14:15 and 10:11 corotation resonances, respectively with Mimas, their origin remains unknown. This work investigates one possible process for capturing bodies into a corotation resonance, which involves increasing in the eccentricity of the perturbing body. Therefore, through numerical simulations and analytical studies, we showed a scenario in which the excitation of Mimas' eccentricity could capture particles in 7:6, 14:15 and 10:11 corotation resonance. This is a possible explanation for the origin of the arcs. Another goal of this work is to analyze a region possible of Aegaeon's origin. Because, there's a possibility of which Aegaon moonlet has been formed in another region of Saturn's system different of that Aegaeon finds itself today. Thus, also through numerical simulations and analytical studies, we verified that perturbation of Jano and Epimeteu by corotation and Lindblad resonance in the outer edge of Saturn's A ring can be responsible by the migration of particles of this edge / Doutor

[Truncated abstract] This thesis examines the bonding interactions and chemical processes associated with irradiated water (H2O) and ammonia (NH3) molecules. The experiments conducted in the present study are designed to replicate the surface chemistry of outer Solar System bodies, particularly the icy surfaces of Saturn's inner moons. Infrared (IR) spectroscopy is used to identify the H2ONH3 complex isolated in an argon (Ar) matrix. An electric discharge is then applied to the H2O and NH3 species to produce the hydroxyl-ammonia (OHNH3) complex and the water-amidogen (H2ONH2) complex. Finally, the ammonia-oxygen (NH3O2) complex is formed in an Ar matrix, complementing previous studies performed by the Quickenden research group, which investigated the conversion of OH radicals into molecular O2 on icy planetary surfaces. ... An electric discharge is applied to the NH3 in Ar mixture, producing the NH2 radical subunit of the complex. Two absorption bands are assigned to the H2O subunit vibrational frequencies of the complex; at 1616.1 cm-1 for the ¿2 HOH bending fundamental and at 3532.1 cm-1 for the ¿1 OH bonded stretching fundamental. Two absorption bands are also assigned to the NH2 radical subunit vibrational frequencies of the complex; at 1498.5 cm-1 for the ¿2 HNH bending fundamental and at 3260.8 cm-1 for the ¿3 NH asymmetric stretching fundamental. These assignments are verified by the isotope substitution method, involving the formation of the deuterated D2OND2 complex analogue in an Ar matrix and the measurement of the isotope induced shifts in peak position in the IR region. The isotopic shifts displayed by the IR absorption bands are in good agreement with the theoretically calculated shifts in vibration frequency when going from the H2ONH2 complex fundamentals to the D2OND2 complex fundamentals. The theoretical calculations also derived an interaction energy of 5.2 kcal mol-1 for the HOHNH2 structure of the H2ONH2 complex. This HOHNH2 structure is also confirmed as the preferred structure of the H2ONH2 complex in the IR experiments, by the observation of a large shift in position of the absorption band associated with the H2O subunit ¿1 OH stretching fundamental, away from the position of the H2O monomer ¿1 OH stretching fundamental. This indicates that the H2O subunit donates a hydrogen for the complex bond in the HOHNH2 complex. The NH3O2 complex is identified in solid Ar matrices at 10.5 K by IR analysis. The NH3O2 complex is formed by the co-deposition of gaseous NH3 in Ar mixtures with O2 in Ar gas mixtures. An absorption band is assigned to the ¿1 OO stretching fundamental for the O2 subunit of the NH3O2 complex at 1552.0 cm-1. This assignment is verified by the isotope substitution method, involving the formation of the deuterated ND3O2 complex analogue in an Ar matrix and the measurement of the isotope induced shift in peak position in the IR region. The isotopic shift displayed by the IR absorption band is in good agreement with the theoretically calculated shift in vibration frequency when going from the NH3O2 complex fundamental to the ND3O2 complex fundamental. The theoretical calculations also derived an interaction energy of 0.28 kcal mol-1 for the NH3O2 complex.

La détection et la caractérisation d'exoplanètes apparaissent clairement comme des thèmes centraux de l'observation astronomique pour les années à venir. Les projets spatiaux ou au sol sont nombreux (HARPS, CoRoT, Kepler, JWST, SPHERE...), mais les études théoriques visant à l'analyse et à la compréhension des données recueillies et à venir sont nécessaires. Durant cette thèse j'ai étudié divers processus physiques affectant la structure interne et l'évolution des planètes géantes, aussi bien au sein, qu'à l'extérieur de notre système solaire. J'ai notamment modélisé en détail: -L'impact de l'irradiation intense émise par l'étoile sur l'atmosphère d'une planète à faible distance orbitale, et l'effet induit sur l'évolution interne de cette planète. -Le couplage par dissipation de marée de l'évolution orbitale et thermique d'une planète interagissant avec sa proche étoile parente. -L'effet de la déformation due aux marées sur les paramètres observables d'une planète en transit grâce au suivi photométrique de son passage devant l'étoile. -L'incidence sur la structure et l'évolution d'une diminution de l'efficacité du transport de chaleur par convection due à un gradient d'éléments lourd dans l'enveloppe gazeuse d'une planète géante, conduisant au phénomène de convection double-diffusive. A travers l'étude des ces divers processus, j'ai développé différents modèles analytiques et codes numériques qui sont à la fois flexibles et robustes, et qui permettent maintenant d'étudier certaines propriétés des nouveaux objets substellaires détectés à mesure qu'ils sont découverts. / The detection and characterization of extrasolar planets clearly appears as one of the main goals of observational astronomy for the coming years. Space and ground project are numerous, but theoretical studies aimed at analyzing and understanding available and future data are needed. During this thesis, I study various physical processes affecting the internal structure and evolution of both solar, and extrasolar giant planets. In particular I investigate : -the impact of the intense stellar irradiation received by a close in planet on its subsequent internal evolution. This allows me to quantify the radius anomaly of bloated Hot Jupiters and to constrain their internal composition. -the tidal and centrifugal distortion of a fluid planet. By using both analytical and numerical models, I show how non-sphericity of the planet affects transit measurements, yielding an underestimation of its radius. -how the presence of double-diffusive convection caused by a heavy elements gradient in the gaseous envelope of a planet can decrease the efficiency of its internal heat transport, and affect its structure and evolution. -the coupling between the orbital and the thermal evolution of a planet arising from the strong star-planet tidal interaction. Subsequently, I find that tidal heating alone is not a viable explanation for the observed radius anomaly of transiting planets. Through these different studies, I developed various analytical models and numerical codes that are both flexible and robust, and which now allow one to study the properties of new extrasolar planets and brown dwarfs as they are discovered.