Motion Of Interplanetary Dust Particle Research Articles

Interplanetary dust particles and solar radiation

The problem of the action of the solar radiation on the motion of interplanetary dust particle is discussed. Differences between the action of electromagnetic solar radiation and that of the solar wind are explained not only from the point of view of the physical nature of these phenomena but also from the point of view of dust particle's orbital evolution. As for the electromagnetic solar radiation, general equation of motion for the particle is written and the most important consequences are: (i) the process of inspiralling toward the Sun is not the only possible motion - even spiralling from the Sun is also possible, and, (ii) the orbital plane of the particle (its inclination) may change in time. As for the solar wind, the effect corresponding to the fact that solar wind particles spread out from the Sun in nonradial direction causes that the process of inspiralling toward the Sun is in more than 50% less effective than for radial spread out; in the region of the asteroid belt (long period orbits) the process of inspiralling is changed into offspiralling. Also shift in the perihelion of dust particle's orbit exists.

Dust particle in the solar gravitational and electromagnetic fields

The action of the solar electromagnetic radiation (in the form of the Poynting-Robertson effect) on the motion of interplanetary dust particle in the gravitational field of the Sun is discussed from the theoretical point of view. Results are presented to all orders inv/c (c - speed of light,v -orbital velocity of the particle) - general relativistic formula is presented.

Misunderstanding of the Poynting-Robertson effect

The most frequent incorrect statements concerning derivations of the action of the solar electromagnetic radiation on the motion of interplanetary dust particles are presented. All of them are discussed and it is also explained why are they physically incorrect. It is stressed that astronomers must discuss the physics of this effect for the purpose of familiarity with it, and, may be, for better understanding of the (in-)stability of the zodiacal cloud.

Interplanetary dust particles and solar electromagnetic radiation

The action of the solar electromagnetic radiation on the motion of interplanetary dust particle of the plane mirror form is investigated. It is shown that for rapidly rotating plane mirror the speed of inspiralling toward the Sun is about a factor of 4 lower than that for spherical mirror of the same cross-sectional area. In principle, it is also possible that the plane mirror can be expelled from the inner part of the Solar System. Presented derivation is a little more general - it is considered that some parts of the incident radiation can be also absorbed or transmitted, not only reflected.

Interplanetary dust particles and solar wind

An effect of the solar wind on the motion of interplanetary dust particles is investigated. An equation of motion is derived. It is pointed out that the ‘Pseudo-Poynting-Robertson effect’ (and its special case — a ‘corpuscular drag’) and the ‘corpuscular sputtering’ represent in reality one and the same effect within the framework of special relativity. In this context perturbation equations of celestial mechanics are also discussed.

Perturbation equations of celestial mechanics

Perturbation equations of celestial mechanics in terms of orbital elements are completely derived in application to the motion of interplanetary dust particle in the gravational field of the Sun and under the action of disturbing forces. Consideration of change of mass of interplanetary dust particle is the most important feature of this derivation. The results obtained are completely general in the case of constant masses.

The Motion of Interplanetary Dust Particles

AbstractRadial velocity measurements on the solar MgI 5183.618Å Fraunhofer absorption line in the Zodiacal Light spectrum have been made with a microprocessor-controlled servo-stabilised Fabry-Perot interferometer. Observations were made at 5 and 10 degree intervals in the ecliptic plane between morning and evening elongations of 25 degrees. These new data are of much greater precision and coverage than any previously obtained. Obtained over a two year period, the observations show a consistent evening/morning asymmetry in the radial velocity curve with the Gegenschein receding from the Earth at 4 Km/sec. These data do not support the hypothesis that the majority of interplanetary dust grains are in hyperbolic trajectories.

Factors affecting the motion of interplanetary dust particles

In this paper the dynamics of individual dust particles and the effects on their motion caused by insolation and consequent evaporation is considered. Evaporation rates and the radii of dust-free zones have been computed using thermodynamic data from various sources. Some doubt is thrown on the validity of the process of matching observed thermal emission peaks with theoretical evaporation zone radii.