  The G ring arc hosts the smallest satellite of Saturn, Aegaeon, observed with
a set of images sent by Cassini spacecraft. Along with Aegaeon, the arc
particles are trapped in a 7:6 corotation eccentric resonance with the
satellite Mimas. Due to this resonance, both Aegaeon and the arc material are
confined to within sixty degrees of corotating longitudes. The arc particles
are dust grains which can have their orbital motions severely disturbed by the
solar radiation force. Our numerical simulations showed that Aegaeon is
responsible for depleting the arc dust population by removing them through
collisions. The solar radiation force hastens these collisions by removing most
of the 10$~\mu$m sized grains in less than 40 years. Some debris released from
Aegaeon's surface by meteoroid impacts can populate the arc. However, it would
take 30,000 years for Aegaeon to supply the observed amount of arc material,
and so it is unlikely that Aegaeon alone is the source of dust in the arc.

Earth and Planetary Astrophysics