Evolution of the Rotational State of Irregular Cometary Nuclei |
| |
| Authors: | Gutiérrez Pedro J Ortiz José L Rodrigo Rafael López-Moreno José J Jorda Laurent |
| |
| Institution: | (1) Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía, CSIC Aptd 3004, 18080 Granada, Spain;(2) Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille, Site Pereisc, 13376 Marseille Cedex 12, France |
| |
| Abstract: | A simplified thermal model has been used to calculate thenon-gravitational forces acting on small irregular nuclei in the
orbit ofComet 46P/Wirtanen. The torque of thenon-gravitational force has beencalculated and the Euler equations have been
solved in order toinvestigate the rotational evolution of several irregular nuclei duringa single orbital step. Several initial
spin axis orientations andactivity patterns on their surfaces have been considered. The nucleiconsidered have a mean radius
of 1 km and their inertia moments havebeen calculated assuming a homogeneous bulk density of 500 kg/m3. Inall the simulations, the initial spin period is 6h and the nucleiinitially rotate around their shortest axis. Under these
assumptions,significant changes in the angular momentum and in spin period have beenobtained in all the simulations, but the
nucleus is found to practicallyremain in its spin state of lowest energy during the entire orbitalperiod. |
| |
| Keywords: | |
| 本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录！ |
|
