Corona-like atmospheric escape from KBOs. I. Gas dynamics

Details Corona-like atmospheric escape from KBOs. I. Gas dynamics Corona-like atmospheric escape from KBOs. I. Gas dynamics

Aug 2009

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009icar..202..681l&link_type=abstract

Icarus, Volume 202, Issue 2, p. 681-693.

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

6

Scientific paper

We show that for low temperatures (T˜30 K) and small, but non-negligible, gravitational fields the hydrodynamic escape of gas can be treated by Parker's theory of coronal expansion [Parker, E.N., 1963. Interplanetary Dynamical Processes. Interscience Publishers, New York]. We apply this theory to gas escape from Kuiper belt objects. We derive limits on the density and radius of the bodies for which this theory is applicable, and show how the flow depends on the mean molecular weight and internal degrees of freedom of the gas molecules. We use these results to explain the CH4 dichotomy seen on KBOs [Schaller, E.L., Brown, M.E., 2007. Astrophys. J., 659, L61-L64].

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Corona-like atmospheric escape from KBOs. I. Gas dynamics does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Corona-like atmospheric escape from KBOs. I. Gas dynamics, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Corona-like atmospheric escape from KBOs. I. Gas dynamics will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-833767