Randomization of dust-ejecta motions and the observed morphology of cometary heads

Details Randomization of dust-ejecta motions and the observed morphology of cometary heads Randomization of dust-ejecta motions and the observed morphology of cometary heads

Nov 1991

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1991aj....102.1870s&link_type=abstract

Astronomical Journal (ISSN 0004-6256), vol. 102, Nov. 1991, p. 1870-1878. Research supported by NASA.

Computer Science

Graphics

11

Astronomical Models, Comet Heads, Cosmic Dust, Particle Motion, Computer Graphics, Morphology, Random Processes

Scientific paper

The computer code that has been used over years to study the dust-coma morphology of comets and to generate their synthetic images is upgraded by introducing two categories of random perturbations into the motions of dust particles ejected from discrete sources of activity on the nucleus surface. The new technique is applied to three types of morphological features: multiple concentric halos, a system of spiral jets, and a sunward fan-shaped coma. The results indicate that inclusion of random perturbations substantially enhances the capability for generating synthetic images that faithfully simulate the observed appearance of dust comets. By increasing the magnitude of perturbations in the synthetic images beyond a certain limit, it is possible to 'erase' morphological features characteristic of the ejection process. This implies that the lack of distinct morphology in the head of a comet cannot be interpreted as the absence of discrete sources of activity on the nucleus surface. The effects of varying random perturbations on the appearance of the computer-generated images are investigated in detail and the suspected major role that imperfect flow collimation (or flow divergence) in dust jets plays with regard to the observed coma morphology is discussed.

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