Is it feasible to observe disintegrating dust aggregates onboard the Rosetta Orbiter?

Abstract

It is expected that disintegration of dust aggregates should produce a considerable fraction of the whole dust population in the coma of Wirtanen. Secondary particles (fragments) have speeds of their parent grains and hence will be easily distinguished from primary particles owing to simultaneous size and velocity measurements by the Dust Flux Analyser. Thereby, an indirect detection of very large grains, hardly (or un-) detectable by DFA or other means, will become possible. We show that observations by DFA will allow to draw estimates on the emission rate and size distribution of secondary particles released from aggregates with various masses, latent heat of the gluing compound(s) etc. To improve measurements of disintegration products by DFA, it is desirable to extend the range of both velocity and size toward lower values, and widen the arrival direction range of detectable particles.