Abstract
AbstractAging effects for comet nuclei encompass both chemical and physical changes to the nucleus which may be manifested as a change in the level of and type of activity that the nucleus experiences. Recent observations have shown the importance of the amorphous to crystalline water ice phase transition in comet nuclei for controlling activity at large distances, and for altering the porosity and volatile distribution in the interior of comets. Evidence for secular changes in activity levels or differences between dynamical classes of comets which have spent different amounts of time in the inner solar system must be decoupled from expected primordial differences between comets. Long-term observational programs by several groups have demonstrated that the effects of aging are detectable. This paper will discuss the expected primordial comet differences, the expected physical and chemical effects of aging, the techniques for observing differences in activity levels, and will present summaries of results of several observing programs.
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