Micron-sized dust particles detected in the outer solar system by the Voyager 1 and 2 plasma wave instruments

D. A Gurnett; J. A Ansher; W. S Kurth; L. J Granroth

doi:10.1029/97GL03228

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Micron-sized dust particles detected in the outer solar system by the Voyager 1 and 2 plasma wave instruments

Journal article

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Micron-sized dust particles detected in the outer solar system by the Voyager 1 and 2 plasma wave instruments

D. A Gurnett, J. A Ansher, W. S Kurth and L. J Granroth

Geophysical research letters, Vol.24(24), pp.3125-3128

12/15/1997

DOI: 10.1029/97GL03228

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Abstract

During the Voyager 1 and 2 flybys of the outer planets it has been demonstrated that the plasma wave instrument can detect small dust particles striking the spacecraft. In this paper, we examine the Voyager plasma wave data for dust impacts in the interplanetary medium at heliocentric radial distances ranging from 6 to 60 astronomical units (AU). The results show that a small but persistent level of dust impacts exists out to at least 30 to 50 AU. The average number density of these particles is about 2 × 10−8 m−3, and the average mass of the impacting particles is believed to be a few times 10−11 g, which corresponds to particle diameters in the micron range. Possible sources of these particles are planets, moons, asteroids, comets, and the interstellar medium. Of these, comets appear to be the most likely source. The number densities are only weakly dependent on ecliptic latitude, which indicates that the particles probably do not originate from planets, moons, or asteroids. Comparisons with interstellar dust fluxes measured in the inner regions of the solar system by the Ulysses spacecraft indicate that the particles are not of interstellar origin.

Astronomy

Earth, ocean, space

Exact sciences and technology

Interplanetary gas and dust (including gegenschein and zodiacal light)

Interplanetary space

Solar system

Details

Title: Subtitle: Micron-sized dust particles detected in the outer solar system by the Voyager 1 and 2 plasma wave instruments
Creators: D. A Gurnett - University of Iowa
J. A Ansher - University of Iowa
W. S Kurth - University of Iowa
L. J Granroth - University of Iowa
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Geophysical research letters, Vol.24(24), pp.3125-3128
DOI: 10.1029/97GL03228
ISSN: 0094-8276
eISSN: 1944-8007
Publisher: American Geophysical Union
Language: English
Date published: 12/15/1997
Academic Unit: Physics and Astronomy
Record Identifier: 9984455279402771

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