Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Oct 2010
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2010dps....42.1701h&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #42, #17.01; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 42, p.978
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
Scientific paper
Electrostatic dust lofting has been proposed as an explanation for lunar horizon glow observations and regolith distribution on asteroids. These hypotheses can only be numerically tested once a feasible particle launching mechanism has been proposed and physically representative initial particles states are identified. We investigate several mechanisms through which dust particles could be separated from the surface of a planetary body. By evaluating the dynamical environment of the particle prior to launching, we are able to constrain the physical environment required for launch and predict dust particle sizes that are most likely to be launched. We show that cohesion between dust particles and the surface is the dominant force that must be overcome in order to launch small (less than 100 micron) particles. Due to the strength of the cohesive force on small particles, we find that 100 micron to 1mm particles are most likely to be launched from the lunar surface rather than traditionally considered sub-micron particles. Additionally, we show that seismic shaking does not significantly reduce the electric field strength required to launch particles. The feasibility of particle launching through micrometeoroid bombardment will also be discussed. C. Hartzell acknowledges support from NASA Headquarters under the NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship Program: Grant NNX09AR51H. D. Scheeres acknowledges support from the NASA Discovery Data Analysis Program.
Hartzell Christine
Scheeres Dan
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