Melt droplet formation in energetic impacts

Details Melt droplet formation in energetic impacts Melt droplet formation in energetic impacts

Jun 1991

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1991pggp.rept..362v&link_type=abstract

In NASA, Washington, Reports of Planetary Geology and Geophysics Program, 1990 p 362-363 (SEE N92-10728 01-91)

Physics

Geophysics

Cretaceous-Tertiary Boundary, Drops (Liquids), Geomorphology, Hypervelocity Impact, Impact Melts, Mathematical Models, Melting, Vaporizing, High Pressure, Impactors, Lunar Rocks, Precambrian Period, Projectiles, Regolith, Spherules, Spraying, Tektites

Scientific paper

Impacts between rocky bodies at velocities exceeding about 15 km/sec are capable of melting or vaporizing both the impacting object and a portion of the target. Geological materials initially shocked to high pressure approach the liquid-vapor phase boundary from the liquid side as they decompress, breaking up into an expanding spray of liquid droplets. A simple theory is presented for estimating the sizes of these droplets as a function of impactor size and velocity. It is shown that these sizes are consistent with observations of microtektites and spherules found in the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary layer, the Acraman impact structure, Archean beds in South Africa and lunar regolith. The model may also apply to the formation of chondrules.

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