Out-of-ecliptic distribution of interplanetary dust derived from near earth flux

The out-of-ecliptic distribution of interplanetary dust, i.e. its number density, mainly has been subject to optical or infrared remote sensing techniques. As the population in interplanetary space is made up of orbiting particles which will cross the ecliptic plane, determination of their orbital properties there gives a possibility also to derive their out-of-ecliptic distribution. Determination of orbital elements is provided by advanced detectors capable of measuring the vector of impact velocity. In a simple model, which applies for advanced detectors in near earth orbit, the feasibility of the method to determine the out-of-ecliptic spatial distribution of dust has been tested.