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Kuiper Belt Dust Grains as a Source of Interplanetary Dust ParticlesThe recent discovery of the so-called Kuiper belt objects has prompted the idea that these objects produce dust grains that may contribute significantly to the interplanetary dust population. In this paper, the orbital evolution of dust grains, of diameters 1 to 9 microns, that originate in the region of the Kuiper belt is studied by means of direct numerical integration. Gravitational forces of the Sun and planets, solar radiation pressure, as well as Poynting-Robertson drag and solar wind drag are included. The interactions between charged dust grains and solar magnetic field are not considered in the model. Because of the effects of drag forces, small dust grains will spiral toward the Sun once they are released from their large parent bodies. This motion leads dust grains to pass by planets as well as encounter numerous mean motion resonances associated with planets. Our results show that about 80% of the Kuiper belt grains are ejected from the Solar System by the giant planets, while the remaining 20% of the grains evolve all the way to the Sun. Surprisingly, the latter dust grains have small orbital eccentricities and inclinations when they cross the orbit of the Earth. This makes them behave more like asteroidal than cometary-type dust particles. This also enhances their chances of being captured by the Earth and makes them a possible source of the collected interplanetary dust particles; in particular, they represent a possible source that brings primitive/organic materials from the outer Solar System to the Earth. When collisions with interstellar dust grains are considered, however, Kuiper belt dust grains around 9 microns appear likely to be collisionally shattered before they can evolve toward the inner part of the Solar System. The collision destruction can be applied to Kuiper belt grains up to about 50 microns. Therefore, Kuiper belt dust grains within this range may not be a significant part of the interplanetary dust complex in the inner Solar System.
Document ID
19970026865
Acquisition Source
Johnson Space Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
doi:10.1006/icar.1996.0220
Authors
Liou, Jer-Chyi (NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX United States)
Zook, Herbert A. (NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX United States)
Dermott, Stanley F. (Florida Univ. Gainesville, FL United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
May 16, 1996
Publication Information
Publication: ICARUS
Publisher: Academic Press, Inc.
Volume: 124
ISSN: 0019-1035
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Report/Patent Number
NASA-CR-204499
NAS 1.26:204499
Accession Number
97N26009
Funding Number(s)
PROJECT: RTOP 642-02-01
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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