Physics
Scientific paper
Dec 2010
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2010agufm.p53c1522h&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2010, abstract #P53C-1522
Physics
[5420] Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets / Impact Phenomena, Cratering, [6000] Planetary Sciences: Comets And Small Bodies, [6022] Planetary Sciences: Comets And Small Bodies / Impact Phenomena
Scientific paper
The Deep Impact (DI) probe impacted comet 9P/Tempel 1 at an angle of ~30° from local horizontal with a velocity of 10.2 km/s. Examination of the resulting ballistic (e.g., non-vapor driven) ejecta revealed phenomena that largely followed expectations from laboratory investigations of oblique impacts into low-density porous material, including a downrange bias, uprange zone of avoidance, and cardioid (curved) rays (Schultz, et al, 2005, 2007). Modeling of the impact based on canonical models and scaling laws (Richardson, et al, 2007) allowed a first-order reconstruction of the event, but did not fully represent the three-dimensional nature of the ejecta flow-field in an oblique impact essential for interpretation of the DI data. In this study, we present new experimental measurements of the early-time ejecta dynamics in oblique impacts that allow a more complete reconstruction of the ballistic ejecta from the impact, including visualization of the DI encounter and predictions for the upcoming re-encounter with Tempel 1. A suite of hypervelocity 30° impact experiments into granular materials was performed at the NASA Ames Vertical Gun Range (AVGR) for the purpose of interpreting the Deep Impact event. A technique based on Particle Tracking Velocimetry (PTV) permitted non-intrusive measurement of the ejecta velocity within the ejecta curtain. The PTV system developed at the AVGR utilizes a laser light sheet projected parallel to the impact surface to illuminate horizontal “slices” of the ejecta curtain that are then recorded by multiple cameras. Particle displacement between successive frames and cameras allows determination of the three-component velocity of the ejecta curtain. Pioneering efforts with a similar technique (Anderson, et al, 2003, 2006) characterized the main-stage ejecta velocity distributions and demonstrated that asymmetries in velocity and ejection angle persist well into the far-field for oblique impacts. In this study, high-speed cameras capture the time-resolved ejecta flow field in a regime much earlier than prior investigations, which permits reconstruction of the event in a temporal (rather than spatial) fashion. Preliminary results for 30° impacts into sand (Hermalyn, et al, 2010) show asymmetric, time-varying ejection angles throughout measurement of crater growth. The downrange component of ejecta initially has the lowest ejection angle. Incomplete coupling at early times forms the zone of avoidance uprange; once the curtain fully closes, this component exhibits a higher angle of ejection than the lateral or downrange regions. The convolution of the decreasing ejection velocities and coupling time leads to the appearance of “curved” rays in the uprange direction (Schultz, et al, 2009). All azimuths approach the same velocity trend towards the end of crater growth, as seen by Anderson, et al (2003). Reconstruction of the DI event by placing the scaled ejecta distribution from the experiments on the shape model (Thomas, et al, 2007) and matching the trajectory and view of the DI spacecraft permit comparison to the DI event. Investigation of the effect of target porosity and layering on the ejecta dynamics constrains the true nature of the impact conditions and surface structure of Tempel 1.
Heineck James T.
Hermalyn Brendan
Schultz Peter H.
No associations
LandOfFree
The Ejecta Evolution of Deep Impact: Insight from Experiments 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 The Ejecta Evolution of Deep Impact: Insight from Experiments, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The Ejecta Evolution of Deep Impact: Insight from Experiments will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1499252