Nonkeplerian dust dynamics at Saturn

Abstract

We calculate the spatial location of possible stable nonequatorial halo dust grain orbits about Saturn, with surface potential determined by local photoionization and magnetospheric charging currents. Stability loci are calculated for both dielectric and conducting grains, in prograde and retrograde orbits, with the sign of the charge determined by the plasma environment. The results show that very small (< 100 nm) grains in positive retrograde orbits are most likely to be found by the Cassini orbiter, while negatively charged grains are dynamically excluded.