Physics
Scientific paper
Dec 2006
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2006agufmsa53a1350c&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2006, abstract #SA53A-1350
Physics
2159 Plasma Waves And Turbulence, 2442 Meteor-Trail Physics
Scientific paper
It has long been known that an intense flux of small-mass meteors (~1 μg) can be readily detected with high- power large-aperture (HPLA) radar. At high altitudes, these meteoroids may damage orbiting satellites by both direct impact as well as spacecraft charging. At lower altitudes, meteoroids affect ionospheric and thermospheric processes by depositing heavy metallic atoms, ions and dust. Moreover, there is evidence that meteoroids can disrupt and halt radio communication by creating plasma density perturbations that are several orders of magnitude greater than those seen in the background ionosphere. Because of the critical importance of characterizing this flux, we have developed a detailed plasma expansion model of the ablating material as the meteoroids disintegrate in the ionosphere, which is the physical basis needed to understand radar scattering from these plasmas. Our results show that the ablation plume depends on altitude through the electron collision rate, which in turn determines the importance of collective fields on the plasma dynamics. Typically a shock forms whose thickness depends on the object velocity and the background ionospheric parameters. At sufficiently high altitudes, even the weak geomagnetic field can play an important role in determining the shock's properties. We will review the range of expected phenomena and show simulations of the plasma dynamics using our comprehensive fluid plasma dynamic and air-chemistry models. These results will allow us to directly measure the meteoroid's mass, radius and density independently and help us determine the meteoroid risk to spacecraft.
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Colestock Patrick
Zinn Joel
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