Circumplanetary dust dynamics

Xiaodong Liu1,2, Jürgen Schmidt3,4

1 School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University,Shenzhen, Guangdong 518107, P.R. China

2 Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Intelligent Microsatellite Constellation, School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University,Shenzhen, Guangdong 518107, PR. China

3 Institute of Geological Sciences, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany

4 Space Physics and Astronomy Research Unit, University of Oulu, 90014 Oulu, Finland

liuxd36@mail.sysu.edu.cn

Abstract

Space dust particles are grains ranging in size from a few nanometers to millimeters, and they are widely distributed in our Solar System. This talk will focus the dust dynamics around eight major planets, i.e., circumplanetary dust dynamics. Circumplanetary dust particles are subject to a variety of forces, including the gravitational forces from the Sun, the planets and the moons, solar radiation force, Lorentz force, plasma drag, Poynting-Robertson drag, solar wind drag, etc.

First, the dust environments around eight planets are presented. The reasons why some planets do not own the dust rings and why others own are briefly explained, and the relevant research papers are reviewed.

Second, our previous research on cicumplanetary dust dynamics is introduced. The dynamics of dust particles originating from the Jovian Galilean satellites was analyzed [1]. The configurations of Martian dust rings were calculated by the direct numerical simulations of particles ejected from Phobos and Deimos [2]. The distribution of dust grains ejected from the lunar surface into the Earth-Moon system was investigated [3].

Space debris and space dust particles share many similarities. The theories and methods used to analyze the dust dynamics could be applied in the field of dynamics of space debris.

Keywords: Circumplanetary dust dynamics, Solar System dust, interplanetary dust dynamics

Acknowledgments

Xiaodong Liu is supported by the Shenzhen Science and Technology Program (Grant No. ZDSYS20210623091808026) and by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 12002397).

References

Liu X, Sachse M, Spahn F, et al. Dynamics and distribution of Jovian dust ejected from the Galilean satellites. Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, 2016, 121(7): 1141-1173.

Liu X, Schmidt J. Configuration of the Martian dust rings: shapes, densities, and size distributions from direct integrations of particle trajectories. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 2021, 500(3): 2979-2985.

Yang K, Schmidt J, Feng W, et al. Distribution of dust ejected from the lunar surface into the Earth-Moon system. Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2022, 659: A120.