Density waves in Saturn's rings probed by radio and optical occultation: observation tests of theory

Parallel analysis of radio and polarimeter occultations of Saturn's Ring A density waves is attempted to form a standard model of wave structures, involving satellite mass, disk mass, and azimuthal phase shift as parameters. The results suggest that the polarimetric data better fits the theory than the radio observations, because the latter involves phase residuals. The latter may be due to the oblique incidence of the radio occultations. The findings indicate a young dynamical age for Saturn's rings based on standard theory torques.