Preliminary analysis of cometary dust trails |
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| Institution: | 1. Humanitas College, Kyung Hee University, 1732, Deogyeong-daero, Giheung-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 17104, South Korea;2. Far Eastern Federal University, 8 Sukhanova St., Vladivostok 690950, Russia;3. Institute of Applied Astronomy of RAS, 10 Kutuzova Emb., Saint-Petersburg 191187, Russia;4. Astronomical Observatory, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, 3 Observatorna St., Kyiv, 04053, Ukraine;5. Astronomical Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, SK-05960 Tatranská Lomnica, Slovak Republic;6. Main Astronomical Observatory of National Academy of Sciences, 27 Akademika Zabolotnoho St., Kyiv, 03143, Ukraine;7. Auburn University, Physics Department, Auburn, AL 36849-5319, USA;8. Space Telescope Science Institute, 3700 San Martin Drive, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA;9. Space Science Institute, 4750 Walnut Street, Boulder Suite 205, CO 80301, USA;10. Department of Astronomy and Space Science, Kyung Hee University, 1732, Deogyeong-daero, Giheung-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 17104, South Korea;1. Main Astronomical Observatory of National Academy of Sciences, Kyiv, Ukraine;2. Astronomical Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, SK-05960 Tatranská Lomnica, Slovak Republic;3. Special Astrophysical Observatory, Russian Academy of Sciences, Nizhnij Arkhyz, Russia;4. Crimean Astrophysical Observatory, Nauchnij, Crimea |
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| Abstract: | Dust trails are observed in the orbits of some short-period comets. Large particles, having diameters in the submillimeter range and larger, are ejected by these comets into orbits close to that of the parent comet. By considering the effects of ejection and radiation forces, we are able to model the spread of particles of different diameters along a parent comet's orbit, both ahead and behind the comet in mean anomaly. Using this model, we estimate the ages of the dust trail material associated with P/Tempel 2, P/Gunn, P/Encke, and P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1. We find them to consist of emissions occuring over a minimum of one to a few orbital periods. We are also able to constrain the particle diameters in a trail segment forward of a comet's orbital position. Such a forward extention is observed in the Tempel 2 and Gunn dust trails, but not the Encke and S-W 1 dust trails. Relative particle sizes among these trails are discussed. The Tempel 2 dust trail is found to have an excess of particles with diameters greater than 1 mm. This may be characteristic of the refractory component of the nucleus of P/Tempel 2, or possibly indicative of active mantle formation and destruction at its surface. |
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