A heuristic model of the Comet Halley dust size distribution

Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy

Scientific paper

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Astronomical Models, Cosmic Dust, Halley'S Comet, Heuristic Methods, Mathematical Models, Particle Size Distribution, Comet Nuclei, Giotto Mission, Ice, Vega Project

Scientific paper

A differential dust production rate distribution at the surface of comet Halley is proposed. The integral of this function over all dust sizes yields a divergent result, consequently the cutoff size (the size of the largest particles capable of leaving the surface of the nucleus) determines the normalization factor of the entire distribution function to a very large extent. A factor of 10 change in the cutoff size can result in a variation of several orders of magnitude of the number of submicron size dust particles. It is suggested that a localized disruption (crack) developed in the evacuated surface dust mantle shortly before the arrival of Vega 1. Dust particles freshly released from this newly uncovered ice are thought to have a higher friability parameter value than from a well developed mantle, consequently one expects a decrease of the cutoff size during a mantle disruption event. By the time of the Giotto encounter a new mantle had evolved thus decreasing the friability. This decreasing friability resulted in a higher cutoff size and in a dramatic decrease of the number of submicron size particles.

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