Physics
Scientific paper
Jan 1969
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1969saosr.292.....m&link_type=abstract
SAO Special Report #292 (1969)
Physics
7
Scientific paper
Several physical properties of the epilith of Mercury can be investigated by a comparison of infrared and microwave brightness temperature with the prediction of theoretical thermal models of the planet. The results presented here have been obtained by numerical solution of the one-dimensional heat-conduction equation with temperature-dependent thermal conductivity, using surface boundary conditions that include the modification of the insolation cycles by the spin-orbit coupling and large orbital eccentricity of the planet. For comparison with microwave observations, disk-averaged brightness temperatures are presented as a function of phase angle and heliocentric longitude of Mercury for wavelengths of 0.12, 0.34, 0.80, 1.90, 3.75, and 11.30 cm. These predictions are compared with calculations from simpler lunar type models and are used to analyze the existing infrared and microwave observations of the planet. A means of determining observationally both the mean thermal parameter (Kρc)-½ cal-1 cm2 sec½ deg and the significance of an effective conductivity due to radiative thermal-energy transport is presented. The observations of a microwave phase effect are all found to be compatible with a ratio of electrical to thermal skin depths approximately equal to the wavelength. The thermal parameter is, from infrared observations, larger than 200 cal-1 cm2 sec½ deg, indicating a thermal conductivity less than 10-4 cal cm-1deg. The loss tangent of the material is greater than 2 X 10-3, Although some contradictions are present, the observations strongly suggest an increase of mean brightness temperature with wavelength, indicating a significant radiative contribution to the subsurface thermal conductivity. All these conclusions are consistent with the hypothesis that the epilith of Mercury is physically very similar to that of the Moon.
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