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Gas release in comet nuclei.

D Prialnik1, A Bar-Nun

  • 1Department of Geophysics and Planetary Sciences, Tel Aviv University.

The Astrophysical Journal
|November 1, 1990
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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Comet nucleus evolution is simulated, revealing crystallization releases trapped gas. This process can cause internal pressures exceeding ice strength, leading to outbursts and matching comet P/Halley

Area of Science:

  • Cometary science
  • Planetary science
  • Astrophysics

Background:

  • Comet nuclei evolve due to internal processes.
  • Gas release from ice crystallization is a key factor in cometary activity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To model the evolution of a comet nucleus considering gas release from ice crystallization.
  • To investigate the impact of crystallization on internal temperature, pressure, and density.
  • To correlate model predictions with observed cometary activity, such as outbursts.

Main Methods:

  • Solving conservation equations for energy, ice mass, and gas mass within a porous amorphous ice nucleus.
  • Simulating a nucleus with trapped carbon monoxide (CO) over 20-30 orbits.
  • Analyzing the effects of varying nucleus density (porosity) and pore size.
Keywords:
NASA Discipline ExobiologyNASA Discipline Number 52-10NASA Program ExobiologyNon-NASA Center

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Main Results:

  • Crystallization generates continuous gas flux with peaks, cyclic in low-density models and sporadic in high-density ones.
  • Internal pressures can exceed cometary ice strength, potentially causing cracking and explosions.
  • A model with 0.2 g cm-3 density effectively reproduces comet P/Halley's light curve and activity.

Conclusions:

  • Comet nucleus crystallization is a significant driver of cometary activity and outbursts.
  • Internal pressure buildup due to gas release can lead to dramatic surface events.
  • The developed model provides a strong framework for understanding cometary evolution and activity patterns.