Nature 290, 454 - 457 (09 April 1981); doi:10.1038/290454a0

The 'braided' F-ring of Saturn

Stanley F. Dermott

Center for Radiophysics and Space Research, Space Sciences Building, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA

The larger of the two satellites which bound the F-ring of Saturn could have only one first-order resonance within the ring. If such a resonance exists, then a wave pattern of equally spaced loops which co-rotate with the satellite will be excited. This pattern could account for the braided appearance of the ring.

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