On the possible implications of Dark Matter in the rings of Saturn: a conjecture

TL;DR

This paper explores the potential effects of Dark Matter on Saturn's rings, suggesting it could influence ring dynamics and interactions with normal matter based on gravitational behavior.

Contribution

It proposes a novel hypothesis that Dark Matter may be present in planetary ring systems and influence their dynamics, extending previous work on gravitational interactions near Lagrange points.

Findings

Dark Matter could affect the stability of planetary rings.

Dark Matter may interact with normal matter in ring regions.

Potential implications for understanding ring system evolution.

Abstract

In this article we discuss some consequences of the well-known proposition of Fritz Zwicky [1], published in the nineteen thirties, that Dark Matter `mimics' the inertia-gravitational behaviour of usual matter. In particular, we consider some special dynamical regions such as those of the Ring Systems of the gaseous giants at the edge of the Planetary System. This article is a continuation of an earlier paper [2], where it was shown that gravitationally interacting particles may remain near the Lagrange Points L4 and L5 for many thousands of years. This provides enough time for the Dark Matter, if present there, to interact with the usual matter. We discuss also a number of questions related to places which might be considered singular in the mathematical sense.