{
  "abstract": "Pan is a small Saturnian satellite embedded within the planet's A ring, characterized by a polygonal equatorial ridge whose formation mechanism remains debated. A proposed explanation is ring particle accretion, yet previous simplified models could not address the ridge's complex multi-lobed morphology without ad hoc assumptions, and the cause of its latitudinal spread remains unclear. This work studies the complex low-energy dynamics around Pan to verify whether the ring particle accretion paths are consistent with the observed ridge morphology. We model particle motion using a CR3BP with spherical harmonic perturbations. Accretion paths are analyzed via grid-search simulations of trajectories transiting the $L_1$ and $L_2$ necks, using backward propagation from Pan's surface to determine the impacting material's original orbital characteristics. Asymmetric accreting particle populations, with inner-ring particles located closer to Pan and contributing more significantly to the impact flux, produce impact distributions that correlate with the ridge structure, especially for the Saturn-facing hemisphere. The ridge latitudinal spread is recovered only when the out-of-plane position and velocity of the accreting particles are strictly limited, consistent with accretion from a thin disk such as Saturn's rings. Furthermore, analysis of the particles' impact conditions revises the previously estimated minimum accretion duration downward by an order of magnitude, to $10^4$ yr, while accreting material is shown to originate from ring particles that once populated the Encke Gap. By systematically sampling admissible low-energy trajectories near Pan, our grid-search approach resolves the complex accretion dynamics that previous simplified narrow-stream models do not capture, revealing that the ridge's main morphological features emerge naturally from the local low-energy dynamical environment.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": "2609.03060",
  "author_total": 4,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Marco Baj"
    },
    {
      "name": "Iosto Fodde"
    },
    {
      "name": "Lucia Francesca Civati"
    },
    {
      "name": "Fabio Ferrari"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/b4mfsykt5453d.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2609.03060",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "b4mfsykt5453d",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.03060",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "LicenseRef-arXiv-nonexclusive-1.0",
  "licence_label": "arXiv licence",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "http://arxiv.org/licenses/nonexclusive-distrib/1.0/",
  "metadata_licence": "CC0-1.0",
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "arxiv",
      "astro-ph.EP"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "3103|Astro and Planetary Science"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7208747415",
  "pdf_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2609.03060",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-02",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/b4mfsykt5453d.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:18:31Z",
      "native_id": "2609.03060",
      "source": "arxiv",
      "url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.03060"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "astronomy",
      "origin": "arxiv:astro-ph.EP",
      "subfield": "planetary"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Low-energy ring particle accretion as the origin of Pan's equatorial ridge",
  "title_text": "Low-energy ring particle accretion as the origin of Pan's equatorial ridge",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:18:31Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/b4mfsykt5453d",
  "venue": "arXiv",
  "versions": []
}