A solar wind and a capture of interstellar dust in the solar system
Authors:
M. Kocifaj, J. Klacka
Image & caption:
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Image caption::
Values of impact parameters (measured in solar radii) when an interstellar dust particle is captured in the Solar System and the particle revolves the Sun. The dotted area holds for the pure electromagnetic case (plus the gravity of the Sun), while the larger area holds for the case when also solar wind effect is considered. Inclusion of the solar wind yields not only higher probability of the capture for particles of a given radius, but also larger particles can be captured and move around the Sun than it is in pure electromagnetic case.
Description:
Motion of the interstellar dust particles in the Solar System is driven by gravitational and nongravitational forces. Some particles can be captured in the Solar System as a result of the interaction with solar radiation (Poynting-Robertson – PR - effect). These particles (with typical radii 300-600 nm) can evidently contribute to the total concentration of the dust in the circumsolar zone. Theoretical and numerical modeling showed that the solar wind can significantly decelerate the particles orbiting the Sun (in a similar way to the PR effect). The effect of solar wind is that the particles with radii 300-1000 nm can survive in the Solar System for a longer time. The capture of dust particles is most effective for grains with a characteristic radius of 400 nm. This size corresponds to the peak of size distribution of particles detected by Ulysses and Galileo probes. The theoretical results can therefore interpret experimental data quite well.
Reference:
KOCIFAJ, Miroslav - KLAČKA, Jozef. A role of the solar wind in dynamics of interstellar dust in the solar system. In Solar Wind: Effects, Dynamics and Interactions. ISBN 978-1-60692-572-0, 2009, p. 275-289, (book chapter).
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