Accession Number:

AD1099259

Title:

Fine-Scale Structure in Cometary Dust Tails I: Analysis of Striae in Comet C/2006 P1 (McNaught) through Temporal Mapping

Personal Author(s):

Corporate Author:

NAVAL RESEARCH LAB WASHINGTON DC WASHINGTON United States

Report Date:

2018-09-12

Abstract:

Striated features, or striae, form in cometary dust tails due to an as-yet unconstrained process or processes. For the first time we directly display the formation of striae, at C2006 P1 McNaught, using data from the SOHO LASCO C3 coronagraph. The nature of this formation suggests both fragmentation and shadowing effects are important in the formation process. Using the SOHO data with STEREO-A and B data from the HI-1 and HI-2 instruments, we display the evolution of these striae for two weeks, with a temporal resolution of two hours or better. This includes a period of morphological change on 2007 January 13-14 that we attribute to Lorentz forces caused by the comets dust tail crossing the heliospheric current sheet. The nature of this interaction also implies a mixing of different sized dust along the striae, implying that fragmentation must be continuous or cascading. To enable this analysis, we have developed a new technique - temporal mapping - that displays cometary dust tails directly in the radiation beta ratio of radiation pressure to gravity and dust ejection time phase space. This allows for the combination of various data sets and the removal of transient motion and scaling effects.

Descriptive Note:

Journal Article - Open Access

Supplementary Note:

Icarus , 319, 01 Jan 0001, 01 Jan 0001,

Pages:

0018

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Distribution Statement:

Approved For Public Release;

File Size:

8.80MB

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