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dc.contributor.advisorHunter, Donald M.en_US
dc.contributor.authorSYKES, MARK VINCENT.
dc.creatorSYKES, MARK VINCENT.en_US
dc.date.accessioned2011-10-31T16:55:10Z
dc.date.available2011-10-31T16:55:10Z
dc.date.issued1986en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10150/183974
dc.description.abstractAnalysis of data from the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) resulted in the discovery of bands of dust surrounding the inner solar system, consisting of asteroid collision debris (Low et al., 1984). Narrow trails of dust were also discovered tracking the orbits of a number of short-period comets (Sykes et al., 1986). Pairs of dust bands are the product of individual collisional events in the asteroid belt. A dynamical model is developed which shows how the orbits of debris from such collisions evolve to form a band pair. A model of the surface area evolution of such bands is also developed which, coupled with asteroid collision theories, indicates that some of the observed dust bands are the consequence of the disruption of ∼10 km diameter asteroids within the last ∼10⁷ years. Observations of other bands are consistant with more ancient disruptions of much larger asteroids, which resulted in the formation of the Koronis and Themis asteroid families. However, the hypothesis that all dust bands represent the small-particle (∼1 mm) members of the Hirayama families is inconsistent with the IRAS data. Dust particles composing the bands are small enough to have experienced some orbital decay due to Poynting-Robertson drag. From the above models, it is possible to account for the bulk of the zodiacal thermal emission, increasing the importance of asteroid collisions as a source of interplanetary dust. Lower limits on the ages of the major asteroid families are derived. Cometary dust trails consist of particles hundreds of microns and larger in diameter, ejected at low velocities (m/s) from the parent comet, and spreading out ahead and behind the comet's position along its orbital path, the initial stages in the evolution of meteor streams. Dust trails are found in association with short-period comets as diverse as P/Encke (perihelion distance, q = .33 AU) and P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 (q = 5.43 AU). Analysis of dust trails indicates possible differences in structure and composition among comet nuclei. Preliminary results from a survey of dust trails in the IRAS data indicate the presence of a large number of previously unobserved short-period comets.
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherThe University of Arizona.en_US
dc.rightsCopyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author.en_US
dc.titleINFRARED ASTRONOMICAL SATELLITE OBSERVATIONS OF ASTEROID DUST BANDS AND COMETARY DUST TRAILS (COLLISIONS, DEBRIS, SOLAR SYSTEM).en_US
dc.typetexten_US
dc.typeDissertation-Reproduction (electronic)en_US
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Arizonaen_US
thesis.degree.leveldoctoralen_US
dc.identifier.proquest8704791en_US
thesis.degree.disciplinePlanetary Sciencesen_US
thesis.degree.disciplineGraduate Collegeen_US
thesis.degree.namePh.D.en_US
refterms.dateFOA2018-06-26T01:34:21Z
html.description.abstractAnalysis of data from the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) resulted in the discovery of bands of dust surrounding the inner solar system, consisting of asteroid collision debris (Low et al., 1984). Narrow trails of dust were also discovered tracking the orbits of a number of short-period comets (Sykes et al., 1986). Pairs of dust bands are the product of individual collisional events in the asteroid belt. A dynamical model is developed which shows how the orbits of debris from such collisions evolve to form a band pair. A model of the surface area evolution of such bands is also developed which, coupled with asteroid collision theories, indicates that some of the observed dust bands are the consequence of the disruption of ∼10 km diameter asteroids within the last ∼10⁷ years. Observations of other bands are consistant with more ancient disruptions of much larger asteroids, which resulted in the formation of the Koronis and Themis asteroid families. However, the hypothesis that all dust bands represent the small-particle (∼1 mm) members of the Hirayama families is inconsistent with the IRAS data. Dust particles composing the bands are small enough to have experienced some orbital decay due to Poynting-Robertson drag. From the above models, it is possible to account for the bulk of the zodiacal thermal emission, increasing the importance of asteroid collisions as a source of interplanetary dust. Lower limits on the ages of the major asteroid families are derived. Cometary dust trails consist of particles hundreds of microns and larger in diameter, ejected at low velocities (m/s) from the parent comet, and spreading out ahead and behind the comet's position along its orbital path, the initial stages in the evolution of meteor streams. Dust trails are found in association with short-period comets as diverse as P/Encke (perihelion distance, q = .33 AU) and P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 (q = 5.43 AU). Analysis of dust trails indicates possible differences in structure and composition among comet nuclei. Preliminary results from a survey of dust trails in the IRAS data indicate the presence of a large number of previously unobserved short-period comets.


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