Micron-sized particle impacts detected near Uranus by the Voyager 2 plasma wave instrument

Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy

Scientific paper

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Hypervelocity Impact, Micrometeoroids, Planetary Environments, Space Plasmas, Uranus (Planet), Voyager 2 Spacecraft, Miranda, Particle Size Distribution, Plasma Waves, Spacecraft Instruments

Scientific paper

During the Voyager 2 flyby of Uranus the plasma wave and radio astronomy instruments detected a region of impulsive noise near the equatorial plane. This noise is believed to be caused by micron-sized particles hitting the spacecraft. Analysis of various coupling mechanisms shows that when a dust particle hits the spacecraft at a high velocity, the particle is instantly vaporized and ionized, thereby releasing a cloud of charged particles, some of which are collected by the antenna. The resulting voltage pulse is detected by the plasma wave instrument. Based on reasonable assumptions about the charge yield and collection efficiency of the antenna, the number density and mass of the particles can be estimated from the rate and amplitude of the voltage pulses.

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