Abstract

AbstractThe physical properties of the interplanetary dust grains are, out of the ecliptic plane, mainly derived from observations of zodiacal light in the visual or infrared domains. The bulk optical properties (polarization, albedo) of the grains are demonstrated to depend upon their distance to the Sun (at least in a 0.1 AU to 1.7 AU range in the symmetry plane) and upon the inclination of their orbits (at least up to 22°). Classical models assuming the homogeneity of the zodiacal cloud are no longer acceptable. A hybrid model, with a mixture of two populations, is proposed. It suggests that various sources (periodic comets, asteroids, non periodic comets...) play an important role in the replenishment of the zodiacal cloud complex.

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