| 1. |
- Adloff, C, et al.
(författare)
-
Energy flow and rapidity gaps between jets in photoproduction at HERA
- 2002
-
Ingår i: European Physical Journal C. Particles and Fields. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1434-6044. ; 24:4, s. 517-527
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Dijet events in photon-proton collisions in which there is a large pseudorapidity separation, Deltaeta > 2.5 between the two highest E-T jets are studied with the H1 detector at HERA. The inclusive dijet cross sections are measured as functions of the longitudinal momentum fractions of the proton and photon which participate in the production of the jets, x(p)(jets) and x(gamma)(jets) respectively, Deltaeta, the pseudorapidity P separation between the two highest E-T jets, and E-T(gap), the total summed transverse energy between the jets. Rapidity gap events are defined as events in which E-T(gap) is less than E-T(cut), for E-T(cut) varied between jets 0.5 and 2.0 GeV. The fraction of dijet events with a rapidity gap is measured differentially in Deltaeta, x(p)(jets) and x(gamma)(jets). An excess of events with rapidity gaps at low values of E-T(cut) is observed above the expectation from standard photoproduction processes. This excess can be explained by the exchange of a strongly interacting colour singlet object between the jets.
|
|
| 2. |
- Adloff, C, et al.
(författare)
-
Measurement of dijet electroproduction at small jet separation
- 2002
-
Ingår i: European Physical Journal C. Particles and Fields. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1434-6044. ; 24:1, s. 33-41
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Deep-inelastic scattering data in the range 150 < Q(2) < 35000 GeV2 are used to investigate the minimum jet separation necessary to allow accurate description of the rate of dijet production using next-to-leading order perturbative QCD calculations. The required jet separation is found to be small, allowing about 1/3 of DIS data to be classified as dijet, as opposed to approximately 1/10 with more typical jet analyses. A number of precision measurements made using this dijet sample are well described by the calculations. The data are also described by the combination of leading order matrix elements and parton showers, as implemented in the QCD based Monte Carlo model RAPGAP.
|
|
| 3. |
- Adloff, C, et al.
(författare)
-
Measurement of inclusive jet cross-sections in deep-inelastic ep scattering at HERA
- 2002
-
Ingår i: Physics Letters. Section B: Nuclear, Elementary Particle and High-Energy Physics. - 0370-2693. ; 542:3-4, s. 193-206
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A measurement of inclusive jet cross-sections in deep-inelastic ep scattering at HERA is presented based on data with an integrated luminosity of 21.1 pb(-1). The measurement is performed for photon virtualities Q(2) between 5 and 100 GeV2, differentially in Q(2), in the jet transverse energy E-T, in E-T(2)/Q(2) and in the pseudorapidity eta(lab). With the renormalization scale mu(R) = E-T, perturbative QCD calculations in next-to-leading order (NLO) give a good description of the data in most of the phase space. Significant discrepancies are observed only for jets in the proton beam direction with ET below 20 GeV and Q2 below 20 GeV2. This corresponds to the region in which NLO corrections are largest and further improvement of the calculations is thus of particular interest.
|
|
| 4. |
- Adloff, C, et al.
(författare)
-
Search for QCD instanton-induced processes in deep-inelastic scattering at HERA
- 2002
-
Ingår i: European Physical Journal C. Particles and Fields. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1434-6044. ; 25:4, s. 495-509
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Signals of QCD instanton-induced processes are searched for in deep-inelastic scattering (DIS) at the electron-proton collider HERA in a kinematic region defined by the Bjorken-scaling variables x > 10(-3), 0.1 < y < 0.6 and photon virtualities 10 less than or similar to Q(2) < 100 GeV2. Several observables characterising hadronic final state properties of QCD instanton-induced events are exploited to identify a potentially instanton-enriched domain. While an excess of events with instanton-like topology is observed it cannot be claimed significant given the uncertainty of the standard DIS background simulation. Upper limits on the cross-section for instanton-induced processes of between 60 pb and 1000 pb are set dependent on the kinematic domain considered. The data do not exclude the cross-section predicted by instanton perturbation theory for small instanton sizes. At large instanton sizes a naive extrapolation of instanton perturbation theory yields a cross-section in the range of sensitivity of this study. Such a cross-section is not observed, in agreement with non-perturbative lattice simulations of the QCD vacuum.
|
|
| 5. |
- Fulle, M., et al.
(författare)
-
Evolution Of The Dust Size Distribution Of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko From 2.2 Au To Perihelion
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 821:1
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Rosetta probe, orbiting Jupiter-family comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, has been detecting individual dust particles of mass larger than 10(-10) kg by means of the GIADA dust collector and the OSIRIS Wide Angle Camera and Narrow Angle Camera since 2014 August and will continue until 2016 September. Detections of single dust particles allow us to estimate the anisotropic dust flux from 67P, infer the dust loss rate and size distribution at the surface of the sunlit nucleus, and see whether the dust size distribution of 67P evolves in time. The velocity of the Rosetta orbiter, relative to 67P, is much lower than the dust velocity measured by GIADA, thus dust counts when GIADA is nadir-pointing will directly provide the dust flux. In OSIRIS observations, the dust flux is derived from the measurement of the dust space density close to the spacecraft. Under the assumption of radial expansion of the dust, observations in the nadir direction provide the distance of the particles by measuring their trail length, with a parallax baseline determined by the motion of the spacecraft. The dust size distribution at sizes > 1 mm observed by OSIRIS is consistent with a differential power index of -4, which was derived from models of 67P's trail. At sizes <1 mm, the size distribution observed by GIADA shows a strong time evolution, with a differential power index drifting from -2 beyond 2 au to -3.7 at perihelion, in agreement with the evolution derived from coma and tail models based on ground-based data. The refractory-to-water mass ratio of the nucleus is close to six during the entire inbound orbit and at perihelion.
|
|
| 6. |
- Adloff, C, et al.
(författare)
-
A measurement of the t dependence of the helicity structure of diffractive rho meson electroproduction at HERA
- 2002
-
Ingår i: Physics Letters. Section B: Nuclear, Elementary Particle and High-Energy Physics. - 0370-2693. ; 539:1-2, s. 25-39
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The helicity structure of the diffractive electroproduction of rho mesons, e + p --> e + rho + Y, is studied in a previously unexplored region of large four-momentum transfer squared at the proton vertex, t: 0 < t' < 3 GeV2, where t' = - min. The data used are collected with the HI detector at HERA in the kinematic domain 2.5 < Q(2) < 60 GeV2, 40 < W < 120 GeV No t dependence of the r(00)(04) spin density matrix element is found. A significant t dependent helicity non-conservation from the virtual photon to the rho meson is observed for the spin density matrix element combinations r(00)(5) + 2r(11)(5) and r(00)(1) + 2r(11)(1). These t dependences are consistently described by a perturbative QCD model based on the exchange of two gluons.
|
|
| 7. |
- Adloff, C, et al.
(författare)
-
Diffractive photoproduction of psi(2S) mesons at HERA
- 2002
-
Ingår i: Physics Letters. Section B: Nuclear, Elementary Particle and High-Energy Physics. - 0370-2693. ; 541:3-4, s. 251-264
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Results on diffractive photoproduction of psi(2S) mesons are presented using data collected between 1996 and 2000 with the H1 detector at the HERA ep collider. The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 77 pb(-1). The energy dependence of the diffractive psi(2S) cross section is found to be similar to or possibly somewhat steeper than that for J/psi mesons. The dependences of the elastic and proton dissociative psi(2S) photoproduction cross sections on the squared momentum transfer t at the proton vertex are measured. The t-dependence of the elastic channel, parametrised as e(bt), yields b(el)(psi(2S)) = (4.31 +/- 0.57 +/- 0.46) GeV-2, compatible with that of the J/psi. For the proton dissociative channel the result b(pd)(psi(2S)) = (0.59 +/- 0.13 +/- 0.12) GeV-2 is 2.3 standard deviations smaller than that measured for the J/psi. With proper account of the individual wavefunctions theoretical predictions based on perturbative QCD are found to describe the measurements well. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
|
|
| 8. |
- Adloff, C, et al.
(författare)
-
Inelastic leptoproduction of J/psi mesons at HERA
- 2002
-
Ingår i: European Physical Journal C. Particles and Fields. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1434-6044. ; 25:1, s. 41-53
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The leptoproduction of J/psi mesons is studied in inelastic reactions for four momentorri transfers 2 < Q(2) < 100GeV(2). The data were taken with the H1 detector at the electron proton collider HERA and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 77 pb(-1). Single differential and double differential cross sections are measured with increased precision compared with previous analyses. New leading order calculations within the non-relativistic QCD factorisation approach including colour octet and colour singlet contributions are compared with the data and are found to give a reasonable description of most distributions. An exception is the shape of the distribution in the J/psi fractional energy. z, which deviates significantly from that of the data. Comparisons with photoproduction are made and the polarisation of the produced J/psi meson is analysed.
|
|
| 9. |
- Adloff, C, et al.
(författare)
-
Inelastic photoproduction of J/psi mesons at HERA
- 2002
-
Ingår i: European Physical Journal C. Particles and Fields. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1434-6044. ; 25:1, s. 25-39
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- An analysis of inelastic photoproduction of J/psi mesons is presented using data collected at the ep collider HERA corresponding to an integrated luminosity of above 80 pb(-1), Differential and double I < P-t/psi(2) < differential cross sections are measured in a wide kinematic region: 60 < W-gammap < 260 GeV, 1 p(t,psi)(2) < 60 GeV2 and 0.05 < z < 0.9. where z is the fraction of the energy of the exchanged photon transferred to the J/psi meson in the rest frame of the target proton. Cross sections at z less than or similar to 0.3 are presented for the first time. Theoretical calculations within the Colour Singlet Model at NLO for direct photon processes are shown to give a good description of the data in the medium z region (0.3 < z < 0.9) up to the highest p(t,psi)(2) values. A calculation using a k(t) factorisation approach in LO in the Colour Singlet Model is also able to describe these data. The data in the full z range are also compared to LO calculations within a non-relativistic QCD framework including colour octet and colour singlet contributions for direct and resolved photons. It seems possible to reconcile data and theory with modest contributions from colour octet processes. The polarisation of the J/psi meson is measured as a function of z and p(t,psi) and is reasonably described by the theoretical predictions.
|
|
| 10. |
- Adloff, C, et al.
(författare)
-
Measurement and QCD analysis of neutral and charged current cross sections at HERA
- 2003
-
Ingår i: European Physical Journal C. Particles and Fields. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1434-6044. ; 30:1, s. 1-32
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The inclusive e(+)p single and double differential cross sections for neutral and charged current processes axe measured with the H1 detector at HERA. The data were taken in 1999 and 2000 at a centre-of-mass energy of roots = 319 GeV and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 65.2 pb(-1). The cross sections are measured in the range of four-momentum transfer squared Q(2) between 100 and 30 000 GeV2 and Bjorken x between 0.0013 and 0.65. The neutral current analysis for the new e(+)p data and the earlier e-p data taken in 1998 and 1999 is extended to small energies of the scattered electron and therefore to higher values of inelasticity y, allowing a determination of the longitudinal structure function F-L at high Q(2) (110 - 700 GeV2). A new measurement of the structure function x (F) over tilde (3) is obtained using the new e(+)p and previously published e p neutral current cross section data at high Q(2). These data together with H1 low Q(2) precision data are further used to perform new next-to-leading order QCD analyses in the framework of the Standard Model to extract flavour separated parton distributions in the proton.
|
|
| 11. |
- Adloff, C, et al.
(författare)
-
Measurement of D*(+/-) meson production and F-2(c) in deep-inelastic scattering at HERA
- 2002
-
Ingår i: Physics Letters. Section B: Nuclear, Elementary Particle and High-Energy Physics. - 0370-2693. ; 528:3-4, s. 199-214
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The inclusive production of D*+/-(2010) mesons in deep-inelastic scattering is studied with the HI detector at HERA. In the kinematic region 1 < Q(2) < 100 GeV2 and 0.05 < y < 0.7 an e(+) p cross section for inclusive D*+/- meson production of 8.50 +/- 0.42(stat.)(-100)(+1.21)(syst.) nb is measured in the visible range p(tD*) > 1.5 GeV and eta(D*) < 1.5. Single and double differential inclusive D*+/- meson cross sections are compared to perturbative QCD calculations in two different evolution schemes, The charm contribution to the proton structure, F-c(2)(x, Q(2)), is determined by extrapolating the visible charm cross section to the full phase space. This contribution is found to rise from about 10% at Q(2) = 1.5 GeV2 to more than 25% at Q(2) = 60 GeV2 corresponding to x values ranging from 5 x 10(-5) to 3 x 10(-3). (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
|
|
| 12. |
- Adloff, C, et al.
(författare)
-
Measurement of dijet cross sections in photoproduction at HERA
- 2002
-
Ingår i: European Physical Journal C. Particles and Fields. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1434-6044. ; 25:1, s. 13-23
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Dijet cross sections as functions of several jet observables are measured in photoproduction using the HI detector at HERA. The data sample comprises e(+)p data with an integrated luminosity of 319 pb(-1). Jets are selected using the inclusive k(perpendicular to) algorithm with a minimum transverse energy of 25 GeV for the leading jet. The phase space covers longitudinal proton momentum fraction x(p) and photon longitudinal momentum fraction x(gamma) in the ranges 0.05 < x(p) < 0.6 and 0.1 < x(gamma) < 1. The predict ions of next-to-leading order perturbative QCD, including recent photon and proton parton densities, are found to be compatible with the data in a wide kinematical range.
|
|
| 13. |
- Adloff, C, et al.
(författare)
-
Measurement of inclusive jet cross sections in photoproduction at HERA
- 2003
-
Ingår i: European Physical Journal C. Particles and Fields. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1434-6044. ; 29:4, s. 497-513
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Inclusive jet cross sections are measured in photoproduction at HERA using the H1 detector. The data sample of e(+)p --> e(+) + jet + X events in the kinematic range of photon virtualities Q(2) less than or equal to 1GeV(2) and photon-proton centre-of-mass energies 95 less than or equal to W-gammap less than or equal to 285GeV represents an integrated luminosity of 24.1pb(-1). Jets are defined using the inclusive k(perpendicular to) algorithm. Single- and multi-differential cross sections are measured as functions of jet transverse energy E-T(jet) and pseudorapidity eta(jet) in the domain 5 less than or equal to E-T(jet) less than or equal to 75GeV and -1 less than or equal to eta(jet) less than or equal to 2.5. The cross sections are found to be in good agreement with next-to-leading order perturbative QCD calculations corrected for fragmentation and underlying event effects. The cross section differential in E-T(jet), which varies by six orders of magnitude over the measured range, is compared with similar distributions from p (p) over bar colliders at equal and higher energies.
|
|
| 14. |
- Adloff, C, et al.
(författare)
-
Search for excited electrons at HERA
- 2002
-
Ingår i: Physics Letters. Section B: Nuclear, Elementary Particle and High-Energy Physics. - 0370-2693. ; 548:1-2, s. 35-44
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A search for excited electron (e*) production is described in which the electroweak decays e* --> egamma, e* --> eZ and e* ---> nuW are considered. The data used correspond to an integrated luminosity of 120 pb(-1) taken in e(+/-)p collisions from 1994 to 2000 with the H1 detector at HERA at centre-of-mass energies of 300 and 318 GeV. No evidence for a signal is found. Mass dependent exclusion limits are derived for the ratio of the couplings to the compositeness scale, f/A. These limits extend the excluded region to higher masses than has been possible in previous direct searches for excited electrons. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.
|
|
| 15. |
- Adloff, C, et al.
(författare)
-
Search for new physics in e +/- q contact interactions at HERA
- 2003
-
Ingår i: Physics Letters. Section B: Nuclear, Elementary Particle and High-Energy Physics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0370-2693. ; 568:1-2, s. 35-47
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Deep-inelastic e(+/-) p scattering at high squared momentum transfer Q(2) up to 30 000 GeV2 is used to search for eq contact interactions associated to scales far beyond the HERA centre of mass energy. The neutral current cross section measurements dsigma / dQ(2), corresponding to integrated luminosities of 16.4 pb(-1) of e(-) p data and 100.8 pb(-1) of e(+) p data, are well described by the Standard Model and are analysed to set constraints on new phenomena. For conventional contact interactions lower limits are set on compositeness scales A ranging between 1.6-5.5 TeV. Couplings and masses of leptoquarks and squarks in R-parity violating supersymmetry are constrained to M / lambda > 0.3-1.4 TeV. A search for low scale quantum gravity effects in models with large extra dimensions provides limits on the effective Planck scale of MS > 0.8 TeV. A form factor analysis yields a bound on the radius of light quarks of R-q < 1.0 10(-18) m. (C) 2003 Published by Elsevier B.V.
|
|
| 16. |
- Adloff, C, et al.
(författare)
-
Search for odderon-induced contributions to exclusive pi(0) photoproduction at HERA
- 2002
-
Ingår i: Physics Letters. Section B: Nuclear, Elementary Particle and High-Energy Physics. - 0370-2693. ; 544:1-2, s. 35-43
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A search for contributions to the reaction ep --> epi(0)N* from photon-odderon fusion in the photoproduction regime at HERA is reported, at an average photon-proton centre-of-mass energy = 215 GeV. The measurement proceeds via detection of the pi(0) decay photons, a leading neutron from the N* decay, and the scattered electron. No pi(0) signal is observed and an upper limit on the cross section for the photon-odderon fusion process of sigma(gammap --> pi(0)N*) < 49 nb at the 95% confidence level is derived, integrated over the experimentally accessible range of the squared four-momentum transfer at the nucleon vertex 0.02 < < 0.3 GeV2. This excludes a recent prediction from a calculation based on a non-perturbative QCD model of a photon-odderon fusion cross section above 200 nb. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
|
|
| 17. |
- Aktas, A, et al.
(författare)
-
Diffractive photoproduction of J/psi mesons with large momentum transfer at HERA
- 2003
-
Ingår i: Physics Letters. Section B: Nuclear, Elementary Particle and High-Energy Physics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0370-2693. ; 568:3-4, s. 205-218
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The diffractive photoproduction of J/psi mesons is measured with the HI detector at the ep collider HERA using an integrated luminosity of 78 pb(-1). The differential cross section dsigma(gammap --> J/psiY)/dt is studied in the range 2 < < 30 GeV2, where t is the square of the four-momentum transferred at the proton vertex. The cross section is also presented as a function of the photon-proton centre-of-mass energy W-gammap in three t intervals, spanning the range 50 < W-gammap < 200 GeV. A fast rise of the cross section with W-gammap is observed for each t range and the slope for the effective linear Pomeron trajectory is measured to be alpha' = -0.0135 +/- 0.0074(stat.) +/- 0.0051(syst.) GeV-2. The measurements are compared with perturbative QCD models based on BFKL and DGLAP evolution. The data are found to be compatible with s-channel helicity conservation. (C) 200 Published by Elsevier B.V.
|
|
| 18. |
- Andreev, V, et al.
(författare)
-
Isolated electrons and muons in events with missing transverse momentum at HERA
- 2003
-
Ingår i: Physics Letters. Section B: Nuclear, Elementary Particle and High-Energy Physics. - 0370-2693. ; 561:3-4, s. 241-257
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A search for events with a high-energy isolated electron or muon and missing transverse momentum has been performed at the electron-proton collider HERA using an integrated luminosity of 13.6 pb(-1) in e(-) p scattering and 104.7 pb(-1) in e(+) p scattering. Within the Standard Model such events are expected to be mainly due to W boson production with subsequent leptonic decay. In e(-) p interactions one event is observed in the electron channel and none in the muon channel, consistent with the expectation of the Standard Model. In the e(+) p data a total of 18 events are seen in the electron and muon channels compared to an expectation of 12.4 +/- 1.7 dominated by W production (9.4 +/- 1.6). Whilst the overall observed number of events is broadly in agreement with the number predicted by the Standard Model, there is-an excess of events with transverse momentum of the hadronic system greater than 25 GeV with 10 events found compared to 2.9 +/- 0.5 expected. The results are used to determine the cross-section for events with an isolated electron or muon and missing transverse momentum. (C) 2003 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.
|
|
| 19. |
- Snodgrass, C., et al.
(författare)
-
The 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko observation campaign in support of the Rosetta mission
- 2017
-
Ingår i: Philosophical Transactions. Series A. - : The Royal Society. - 1364-503X .- 1471-2962. ; 375:2097
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present a summary of the campaign of remote observations that supported the European Space Agency's Rosetta mission. Telescopes across the globe (and in space) followed comet 67P/ Churyumov-Gerasimenko from before Rosetta's arrival until nearly the end of the mission in September 2016. These provided essential data for mission planning, large-scale context information for the coma and tails beyond the spacecraft and a way to directly compare 67P with other comets. The observations revealed 67P to be a relatively 'well-behaved' comet, typical of Jupiter family comets and with activity patterns that repeat from orbit to orbit. Comparison between this large collection of telescopic observations and the in situ results from Rosetta will allow us to better understand comet coma chemistry and structure. This work is just beginning as the mission ends-in this paper, we present a summary of the ground-based observations and early results, and point to many questions that will be addressed in future studies. This article is part of the themed issue 'Cometary science after Rosetta'.
|
|
| 20. |
- Adloff, C, et al.
(författare)
-
Search for excited neutrinos at HERA
- 2002
-
Ingår i: Physics Letters. Section B: Nuclear, Elementary Particle and High-Energy Physics. - 0370-2693. ; 525:1-2, s. 9-16
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present a search for excited neutrinos using e(-) p data taken by the H1 experiment at HERA at a center-of-mass energy of 318 GeV with an integrated luminosity of 15 pb(-1). No evidence for excited neutrino production is found. Mass dependent exclusion limits are determined for the ratio of the coupling to the compositeness scale, f/Lambda, independently of the relative couplings to the SU(2) and U(1) gauge bosons. These limits extend the excluded region to higher masses than has been possible in previous searches at other colliders.
|
|
| 21. |
|
|
| 22. |
- Fulle, M., et al.
(författare)
-
Rotating dust particles in the coma of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
- 2015
-
Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 583
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Context. During September and October 2014, the OSIRIS cameras onboard the ESA Rosetta mission detected millions of single particles. Many of these dust particles appear as long tracks (due to both the dust proper motion and the spacecraft motion during the exposure time) with a clear brightness periodicity. Aims. We interpret the observed periodic features as a rotational and translational motion of aspherical dust grains. Methods. By counting the peaks of each track, we obtained statistics of a rotation frequency. We compared these results with the rotational frequency predicted by a model of aspherical dust grain dynamics in a model gas flow. By testing many possible sets of physical conditions and grain characteristics, we constrained the rotational properties of dust grains. Results. We analyzed on the motion of rotating aspherical dust grains with different cross sections in flow conditions corresponding to the coma of 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko qualitatively and quantitatively. Based on the OSIRIS observations, we constrain the possible physical parameters of the grains.
|
|
| 23. |
- Giacomini, L., et al.
(författare)
-
Geologic mapping of the Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko's Northern hemisphere
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0035-8711 .- 1365-2966. ; 462, s. S352-S369
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Optical, Spectroscopic, and Infrared Remote Imaging System (OSIRIS), the scientific imaging system onboard the Rosetta mission, has been acquiring images of the nucleus of the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko since 2014 August with a resolution which allows a detailed analysis of its surface. Indeed, data reveal a complex surface morphology which is likely the expression of different processes which occurred at different times on the cometary nucleus. In order to characterize these different morphologies and better understand their distribution, we performed a geologic mapping of comet's 67P Northern hemisphere in which features have been distinguished based on their morphological, textural and stratigraphic characteristics. For this purpose, we used narrow-angle camera images acquired in 2014 August and September with a spatial scale ranging from 1.2 to 2.4 m pixel(-1). Several different geologic units have been identified on the basis of their different surface textures, granulometry and morphology. Some of these units are distinctive and localized, whereas others are more common and distributed all over the Northern hemisphere. Moreover, different types of linear features have been distinguished on the basis of their morphology. Some of these lineaments have never been observed before on a comet and can offer important clues on the internal structures of the nucleus itself. The geologic mapping results presented here will allow us to better understand the processes which affected the nucleus' surface and thus the origin and evolutionary history of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.
|
|
| 24. |
- Grun, E., et al.
(författare)
-
The 2016 Feb 19 outburst of comet 67P/CG : an ESA Rosetta multi-instrument study
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0035-8711 .- 1365-2966. ; 462, s. S220-S234
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- On 2016 Feb 19, nine Rosetta instruments serendipitously observed an outburst of gas and dust from the nucleus of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Among these instruments were cameras and spectrometers ranging from UV over visible to microwave wavelengths, in situ gas, dust and plasma instruments, and one dust collector. At 09: 40 a dust cloud developed at the edge of an image in the shadowed region of the nucleus. Over the next two hours the instruments recorded a signature of the outburst that significantly exceeded the background. The enhancement ranged from 50 per cent of the neutral gas density at Rosetta to factors > 100 of the brightness of the coma near the nucleus. Dust related phenomena (dust counts or brightness due to illuminated dust) showed the strongest enhancements (factors > 10). However, even the electron density at Rosetta increased by a factor 3 and consequently the spacecraft potential changed from similar to-16 V to -20 V during the outburst. A clear sequence of events was observed at the distance of Rosetta ( 34 km from the nucleus): within 15 min the Star Tracker camera detected fast particles (similar to 25 m s(-1)) while 100 mu m radius particles were detected by the GIADA dust instrument similar to 1 h later at a speed of 6 m s(-1). The slowest were individual mm to cm sized grains observed by the OSIRIS cameras. Although the outburst originated just outside the FOV of the instruments, the source region and the magnitude of the outburst could be determined.
|
|
| 25. |
- Lucchetti, A., et al.
(författare)
-
Geomorphological and spectrophotometric analysis of Seth's circular niches on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko using OSIRIS images
- 2017
-
Ingår i: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. - : OXFORD UNIV PRESS. - 0035-8711 .- 1365-2966. ; 469, s. S238-S251
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We provide a detailed geomorphological and spectrophotometric analysis of the circular niches located on the Seth region of 67P using OSIRIS images. The features can be related to landslide events that occurred on 67P and shaped its surface, as the recent Aswan cliff collapse detected in the same region. We therefore provide an analysis of the area pre -and post-perihelion suggesting that no specific changes have been observed. To assess this, after performing a geomorphological map of the area that allows us to identify different terrain units, we computed the boulders cumulative size frequency distribution (SFD) of the niches, before and after the perihelion passage. The niches SFDs are characterized by a similar trend with two different power-law indices within the same deposit: lower power-law value (between -2.3 and -2.7) for boulders smaller than 5 m and steeper power-law value (between -4.7 and -5.0) for boulders larger than 5 m. These trends suggest that smaller boulders have evolved and progressively have been depleted (lower power-law index), while bigger boulders are more representative of the event that generated the deposit and are less degraded. Then, we perform the spectrophotometric analysis of this region comparing pre-and post-perihelion results. We found colour changes within the area, in particular brighter patches related to the presence of exposed water ice mixed to the refractory materials have been detected in the post-perihelion images.
|
|
| 26. |
- Thomas, N., et al.
(författare)
-
Redistribution of particles across the nucleus of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
- 2015
-
Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 583
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Context. We present an investigation of the surface properties of areas on the nucleus of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Aims. We aim to show that transport of material from one part of the cometary nucleus to another is a significant mechanism that influences the appearance of the nucleus and the surface thermal properties. Methods. We used data from the OSIRIS imaging system onboard the Rosetta spacecraft to identify surface features on the nucleus that can be produced by various transport mechanisms. We used simple calculations based on previous works to establish the plausibility of dust transport from one part of the nucleus to another. Results. We show by observation and modeling that "airfall" as a consequence of non-escaping large particles emitted from the neck region of the nucleus is a plausible explanation for the smooth thin deposits in the northern hemisphere of the nucleus. The consequences are also discussed. We also present observations of aeolian ripples and ventifacts. We show by numerical modeling that a type of saltation is plausible even under the rarified gas densities seen at the surface of the nucleus. However, interparticle cohesive forces present difficulties for this model, and an alternative mechanism for the initiation of reptation and creep may result from the airfall mechanism. The requirements on gas density and other parameters of this alternative make it a more attractive explanation for the observations. The uncertainties and implications are discussed.
|
|
| 27. |
- Auger, A. -T, et al.
(författare)
-
Geomorphology of the Imhotep region on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko from OSIRIS observations
- 2015
-
Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 583
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Context. Since August 2014, the OSIRIS Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) onboard the Rosetta spacecraft has acquired high spatial resolution images of the nucleus of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, down to the decimeter scale. This paper focuses on the Imhotep region, located on the largest lobe of the nucleus, near the equator. Aims. We map, inventory, and describe the geomorphology of the Imhotep region. We propose and discuss some processes to explain the formation and ongoing evolution of this region. Methods. We used OSIRIS NAC images, gravitational heights and slopes, and digital terrain models to map and measure the morphologies of Imhotep. Results. The Imhotep region presents a wide variety of terrains and morphologies: smooth and rocky terrains, bright areas, linear features, roundish features, and boulders. Gravity processes such as mass wasting and collapse play a significant role in the geomorphological evolution of this region. Cometary processes initiate erosion and are responsible for the formation of degassing conduits that are revealed by elevated roundish features on the surface. We also propose a scenario for the formation and evolution of the Imhotep region; this implies the presence of large primordial voids inside the nucleus, resulting from its formation process.
|
|
| 28. |
- Barty, A., et al.
(författare)
-
Self-terminating diffraction gates femtosecond X-ray nanocrystallography measurements
- 2012
-
Ingår i: Nature Photonics. - 1749-4885 .- 1749-4893. ; 6:1, s. 35-40
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- X-ray free-electron lasers have enabled new approaches to the structural determination of protein crystals that are too small or radiation-sensitive for conventional analysis1. For sufficiently short pulses, diffraction is collected before significant changes occur to the sample, and it has been predicted that pulses as short as 10 fs may be required to acquire atomic-resolution structural information1, 2, 3, 4. Here, we describe a mechanism unique to ultrafast, ultra-intense X-ray experiments that allows structural information to be collected from crystalline samples using high radiation doses without the requirement for the pulse to terminate before the onset of sample damage. Instead, the diffracted X-rays are gated by a rapid loss of crystalline periodicity, producing apparent pulse lengths significantly shorter than the duration of the incident pulse. The shortest apparent pulse lengths occur at the highest resolution, and our measurements indicate that current X-ray free-electron laser technology5 should enable structural determination from submicrometre protein crystals with atomic resolution.
|
|
| 29. |
- El-Maarry, M. R., et al.
(författare)
-
Regional surface morphology of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko from Rosetta/OSIRIS images
- 2015
-
Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 583
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aims. The OSIRIS camera onboard the Rosetta spacecraft has been acquiring images of the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko (67P)'s nucleus at spatial resolutions down to similar to 0.17 m/px ever since Aug. 2014. These images have yielded unprecedented insight into the morphological diversity of the comet's surface. This paper presents an overview of the regional morphology of comet 67P. Methods. We used the images that were acquired at orbits similar to 20-30 km from the center of the comet to distinguish different regions on the surface and introduce the basic regional nomenclature adopted by all papers in this Rosetta special feature that address the comet's morphology and surface processes. We used anaglyphs to detect subtle regional and topographical boundaries and images from close orbit (similar to 10 km from the comet's center) to investigate the fine texture of the surface. Results. Nineteen regions have currently been defined on the nucleus based on morphological and/or structural boundaries, and they can be grouped into distinctive region types. Consolidated, fractured regions are the most common region type. Some of these regions enclose smooth units that appear to settle in gravitational sinks or topographically low areas. Both comet lobes have a significant portion of their surface covered by a dusty coating that appears to be recently placed and shows signs of mobilization by aeolian-like processes. The dusty coatings cover most of the regions on the surface but are notably absent from a couple of irregular large depressions that show sharp contacts with their surroundings and talus-like deposits in their interiors, which suggests that short-term explosive activity may play a significant role in shaping the comet's surface in addition to long-term sublimation loss. Finally, the presence of layered brittle units showing signs of mechanical failure predominantly in one of the comet's lobes can indicate a compositional heterogeneity between the two lobes.
|
|
| 30. |
- El-Marry, M. R., et al.
(författare)
-
Regional surface morphology of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko from Rosetta/OSIRIS images : The southern hemisphere
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 593
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aims. The OSIRIS camera on board the Rosetta spacecraft has been acquiring images of the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko (67P)'s nucleus since August 2014. Starting in May 2015, the southern hemisphere gradually became illuminated and was imaged for the first time. Here we present the regional morphology of the southern hemisphere, which serves as a companion to an earlier paper that presented the regional morphology of the northern hemisphere. Methods. We used OSIRIS images that were acquired at orbits similar to 45-125 km from the center of the comet (corresponding to spatial resolutions of similar to 0.8 to 2.3 m/pixel) coupled with the use of digital terrain models to define the different regions on the surface, and identify structural boundaries accurately. Results. Seven regions have been defined in the southern hemisphere bringing the total number of defined regions on the surface of the nucleus to 26. These classifications are mainly based on morphological and/or topographic boundaries. The southern hemisphere shows a remarkable dichotomy with its northern counterpart mainly because of the absence of wide-scale smooth terrains, dust coatings and large unambiguous depressions. As a result, the southern hemisphere closely resembles previously identified consolidated regions. An assessment of the overall morphology of comet 67P suggests that the comet's two lobes show surface heterogeneities manifested in different physical/mechanical characteristics, possibly extending to local (i.e., within a single region) scales.
|
|
| 31. |
- Fornasier, S., et al.
(författare)
-
The highly active Anhur-Bes regions in the 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko comet : results from OSIRIS/ROSETTA observations
- 2017
-
Ingår i: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. - : OXFORD UNIV PRESS. - 0035-8711 .- 1365-2966. ; 469, s. S93-S107
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Southern hemisphere of the 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko comet has become visible from Rosetta only since 2015 March. It was illuminated during the perihelion passage and therefore it contains the regions that experienced the strongest heating and erosion rates, thus exposing the sub-surface most pristine material. In this work we investigate, thanks to the OSIRIS images, the geomorphology, the spectrophotometry and some transient events of two Southern hemisphere regions: Anhur and part of Bes. Bes is dominated by outcropping consolidated terrain covered with fine particle deposits, while Anhur appears strongly eroded with elongated canyon-like structures, scarp retreats, different kinds of deposits and degraded sequences of strata indicating a pervasive layering. We discovered a new 140 m long and 10 m high scarp formed in the Anhur-Bes boundary during/after the perihelion passage, close to the area where exposed CO2 and H2O ices were previously detected. Several jets have been observed originating from these regions, including the strong perihelion outburst, an active pit and a faint optically thick dust plume. We identify several areas with a relatively bluer slope (i.e. a lower spectral slope value) than their surroundings, indicating a surface composition enriched with some water ice. These spectrally bluer areas are observed especially in talus and gravitational accumulation deposits where freshly exposed material had fallen from nearby scarps and cliffs. The investigated regions become spectrally redder beyond 2 au outbound when the dust mantle became thicker, masking the underlying ice-rich layers.
|
|
| 32. |
- Hu, X., et al.
(författare)
-
Thermal modelling of water activity on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko with global dust mantle and plural dust-to-ice ratio
- 2017
-
Ingår i: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. - : OXFORD UNIV PRESS. - 0035-8711 .- 1365-2966. ; 469, s. S295-S311
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We perform a thermo-physical analysis on water activity of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko (67P). The sublimation of water is assumed to occur from beneath a global, desiccated dust mantle over the irregular-shaped nucleus. The concept of two thermal models, the recipe of model formulation and the strategy of application to comet 67P are described. For an accurate and efficient evaluation of energy input by insolation and self-heating over the nucleus, a Landscape data base is devised based on polyhedral shape models of the nucleus. We apply the thermal models to investigate the impact of certain parameters of nucleus properties on water production. It is found that the measured water production of 67P can be overall attributed to sublimation of water ice with a mass abundance of a few to 10 per cent beneath a uniform dust mantle of several millimetres to one centimetre in thickness. Insofar as 67P is concerned, we argue against the necessity to invoke assumptions on localized water activity, or on the distinction of active/dormant surface areas.
|
|
| 33. |
- Ip, W. -H, et al.
(författare)
-
Physical properties and dynamical relation of the circular depressions on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 591
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aims. We aim to characterize the circular depressions of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko and investigate whether such surface morphology of a comet nucleus is related to the cumulative sublimation effect since becoming a Jupiter family comet (JFC). Methods. The images from the Rosetta/OSIRIS science camera experiment are used to construct size frequency distributions of the circular depression structures on comet 67P and they are compared with those of the JFCs 81P/Wild 2, 9P/Tempel 1, and 103P/Hartley 2. The orbital evolutionary histories of these comets over the past 100 000 yr are analyzed statistically and compared with each other. Results. The global distribution of the circular depressions over the surface of 67P is charted and classified. Descriptions are given to the characteristics and cumulative size frequency distribution of the identified features. Orbital statistics of the JFCs visited by spacecraft are derived. Conclusions. The size frequency distribution of the circular depressions is found to have a similar power law distribution to those of 9P/Tempel 1 and 81P/Wild 2. This might imply that they could have been generated by the same process. Orbital integration calculation shows that the surface erosion histories of 81P/Wild 2, and 9P/Tempel 1 could be shorter than those of 67P, 103 P/Hartley 2 and 19P/Borrelly. From this point of view, the circular depressions could be dated back to the pre-JFC phase or the transneptunian phase of these comets. The north-south asymmetry in the distribution of the circular depressions could be associated with the heterogeneous structure of the nucleus of comet 67P and/or the solar insolation history.
|
|
| 34. |
|
|
| 35. |
- Lin, Zhong-Yi, et al.
(författare)
-
Investigating the physical properties of outbursts on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
- 2017
-
Ingår i: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. - : OXFORD UNIV PRESS. - 0035-8711 .- 1365-2966. ; 469, s. S731-S740
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Cometary outbursts on several comets have been observed both by ground-based telescopes and by in situ instruments on spacecraft. However, the mechanism behind these phenomena and their physical properties are still unclear. The optical, spectrocopic and infrared remote imaging system (OSIRIS) onboard the Rosetta spacecraft provided first-hand information on the outbursts from comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko during its perihelion passage in 2015. The physical properties of the outbursts can be investigated by examining the time series of these high-resolution images. An analysis is made of the wide- and narrow-angle images obtained during the monitoring of the outburst sequences, which occurred between July and September in 2015. A ring-masking technique is used to calculate the excess brightness of the outbursts. The ejected mass and expansion velocity of the outbursts is estimated from differences in images made with the same filter (orange filter). The calculated excess brightness from these outburst plumes ranges from a few per cent to 28 per cent. In some major outbursts, the brightness contribution from the outburst plume can be one or two times higher than that of the typical coma jet activities. The strongest event was the perihelion outburst detected just a few hours before perihelion. The mass ejection rate during a generic outburst could reach a few per cent of the steady-state value of the dust coma. Transient events are detected by studying the brightness slope of the outburst plume with continuous streams of outflowing gas and dust triggered by driving mechanisms, as yet not understood, which remain active for several minutes to less than a few hours.
|
|
| 36. |
- Lin, Z. -Y, et al.
(författare)
-
Morphology and dynamics of the jets of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko : Early-phase development
- 2015
-
Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 583
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aims. The OSIRIS camera onboard the Rosetta spacecraft obtained close-up views of the dust coma of comet 67P. The jet structures can be used to trace their source regions and to examine the possible effect of gas-surface interaction. Methods. We analyzed the wide-angle images obtained in the special dust observation sequences between August and September 2014. The jet features detected in different images were compared to study their time variability. The locations of the potential source regions of some of the jets are identified by ray tracing. We used a ring-masking technique to calculate the brightness distribution of dust jets along the projected distance. Results. The jets detected between August and September 2014 mostly originated in the Hapi region. Morphological changes appeared over a timescale of several days in September. The brightness slope of the dust jets is much steeper than the background coma. This might be related to the sublimation or fragmentation of the emitted dust grains. Interaction of the expanding gas flow with the cliff walls on both sides of Hapi could lead to erosion and material down-fall to the nucleus surface.
|
|
| 37. |
- Lin, Z. -Y, et al.
(författare)
-
Observations and analysis of a curved jet in the coma of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 588
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aims. We analyze the physical properties and dynamical origin of a curved jet of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko that was observed repeatedly in several nucleus rotations starting on May 30 and persisting until early August, 2015. Methods. We simulated the motion of dust grains ejected from the nucleus surface under the influence of the gravity and viscous drag e ff ect of the expanding gas flow from the rotating nucleus. Results. The formation of the curved jet is a combination of the size of the dust particles (similar to 0.1-1 mm) and the location of the source region near the nucleus equator. This enhances the spiral feature of the collimated dust stream after the dust is accelerated to a terminal speed on the order of m s(-1).
|
|
| 38. |
- Masoumzadeh, N., et al.
(författare)
-
Opposition effect on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko using Rosetta-OSIRIS images
- 2017
-
Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP SCIENCES S A. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 599
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aims. We aim to explore the behavior of the opposition effect as an important tool in optical remote sensing on the nucleus of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko (67P), using Rosetta-OSIRIS images acquired in different filters during the approach phase, July-August 2014 and the close flyby images on 14 of February 2015, which contain the spacecraft shadow. Methods. We based our investigation on the global and local brightness from the surface of 67P with respect to the phase angle, also known as phase curve. The local phase curve corresponds to a region that is located at the Imhotep-Ash boundary of 67P. Assuming that the region at the Imhotep-Ash boundary and the entire nucleus have similar albedo, we combined the global and local phase curves to study the opposition-surge morphology and constrain the structure and properties of 67P. The model parameters were furthermore compared with other bodies in the solar system and existing laboratory study. Results. We found that the morphological parameters of the opposition surge decrease monotonically with wavelength, whereas in the case of coherent backscattering this behavior should be the reverse. The results from comparative analysis place 67P in the same category as the two Mars satellites, Phobos and Deimos, which are notably different from all airless bodies in the solar system. The similarity between the surface phase function of 67P and a carbon soot sample at extremely small angles is identified, introducing regolith at the boundary of the Imhotep-Ash region of 67P as a very dark and fluffy layer.
|
|
| 39. |
- Matonti, C., et al.
(författare)
-
Bilobate comet morphology and internal structure controlled by shear deformation
- 2019
-
Ingår i: Nature Geoscience. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1752-0894 .- 1752-0908. ; 12:3, s. 157-162
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Bilobate comets-small icy bodies with two distinct lobes-are a common configuration among comets, but the factors shaping these bodies are largely unknown. Cometary nuclei, the solid centres of comets, erode by ice sublimation when they are sufficiently close to the Sun, but the importance of a comet's internal structure on its erosion is unclear. Here we present three-dimensional analyses of images from the Rosetta mission to illuminate the process that shaped the Jupiter-family bilobate comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko over billions of years. We show that the comet's surface and interior exhibit shear-fracture and fault networks, on spatial scales of tens to hundreds of metres. Fractures propagate up to 500 m below the surface through a mechanically homogeneous material. Through fracture network analysis and stress modelling, we show that shear deformation generates fracture networks that control mechanical surface erosion, particularly in the strongly marked neck trough of 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, exposing its interior. We conclude that shear deformation shapes and structures the surface and interior of bilobate comets, particularly in the outer Solar System where water ice sublimation is negligible.
|
|
| 40. |
- Mottola, S., et al.
(författare)
-
The rotation state of 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko from approach observations with the OSIRIS cameras on Rosetta
- 2014
-
Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 569, s. L2-
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aims. Approach observations with the Optical, Spectroscopic, and Infrared Remote Imaging System (OSIRIS) experiment onboard Rosetta are used to determine the rotation period, the direction of the spin axis, and the state of rotation of comet 67P's nucleus. Methods. Photometric time series of 67P have been acquired by OSIRIS since the post wake-up commissioning of the payload in March 2014. Fourier analysis and convex shape inversion methods have been applied to the Rosetta data as well to the available ground-based observations. Results. Evidence is found that the rotation rate of 67P has significantly changed near the time of its 2009 perihelion passage, probably due to sublimation-induced torque. We find that the sidereal rotation periods P-1 = 12.76129 +/- 0.00005 h and P2 = 12.4043 +/- 0.0007 h for the apparitions before and after the 2009 perihelion, respectively, provide the best fit to the observations. No signs of multiple periodicity are found in the light curves down to the noise level, which implies that the comet is presently in a simple rotation state around its axis of largest moment of inertia. We derive a prograde rotation model with spin vector J2000 ecliptic coordinates lambda = 65 degrees +/- 15 degrees, beta = + 59 degrees +/- 15 degrees, corresponding to equatorial coordinates RA = 22 degrees, Dec = +76 degrees. However, we find that the mirror solution, also prograde, at lambda = 275 degrees +/- 15 degrees, beta = + 50 degrees +/- 15 degrees (or RA = 274 degrees, Dec = +27 degrees), is also possible at the same confidence level, due to the intrinsic ambiguity of the photometric problem for observations performed close to the ecliptic plane.
|
|
| 41. |
- Pajola, M., et al.
(författare)
-
The pebbles/boulders size distributions on Sais : Rosetta's final landing site on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
- 2017
-
Ingår i: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0035-8711 .- 1365-2966. ; 469:Suppl. 2, s. S636-S645
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- By using the imagery acquired by the Optical, Spectroscopic, and Infrared Remote Imaging System Wide-Angle Camera (OSIRISWAC), we prepare a high-resolution morphological map of the Rosetta Sais final landing site, characterized by an outcropping consolidated terrain unit, a coarse boulder deposit and a fine particle deposit. Thanks to the 0.014 m resolution images, we derive the pebbles/boulders size-frequency distribution (SFD) of the area in the size range of 0.07-0.70 m. Sais' SFD is best fitted with a two-segment differential power law: the first segment is in the range 0.07-0.26 m, with an index of -1.7 ± 0.1, while the second is in the range 0.26-0.50 m, with an index of -4.2 +0.4/-0.8. The 'knee' of the SFD, located at 0.26 m, is evident both in the coarse and fine deposits. When compared to the Agilkia Rosetta Lander Imaging System images, Sais surface is almost entirely free of the ubiquitous, cm-sized debris blanket observed by Philae. None the less, a similar SFD behaviour of Agilkia, with a steeper distribution above ~0.3 m, and a flatter trend below that, is observed. The activity evolution of 67P along its orbit provides a coherent scenario of how these deposits were formed. Indeed, different lift pressure values occurring on the two locations and at different heliocentric distances explain the presence of the cm-sized debris blanket on Agilkia observed at 3.0 au inbound. Contrarily, Sais activity after 2.1 au outbound has almost completely eroded the fine deposits fallen during perihelion, resulting in an almost dust-free surface observed at 3.8 au.
|
|
| 42. |
- Penasa, L., et al.
(författare)
-
A three-dimensional modelling of the layered structure of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
- 2017
-
Ingår i: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0035-8711 .- 1365-2966. ; 469, s. S741-S754
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We provide a three-dimensional model of the inner layered structure of comet 67P based on the hypothesis of an extended layering independently wrapping each lobe. A large set of terrace orientations was collected on the latest shape model and then used as a proxy for the local orientation of the surfaces of discontinuity which defines the layers. We modelled the terraces as a family of concentric ellipsoidal shells with fixed axis ratios, producing a model that is completely defined by just eight free parameters. Each lobe of 67P has been modelled independently, and the two sets of parameters have been estimated by means of non-linear optimization of the measured terrace orientations. The proposed model is able to predict the orientation of terraces, the elongation of cliffs, the linear traces observed in the Wosret and Hathor regions and the peculiar alignment of boulder-like features which has been observed in the Hapi region, which appears to be related to the inner layering of the big lobe. Our analysis allowed us to identify a plane of junction between the two lobes, further confirming the independent nature of the lobes. Our layering models differ from the best-fitting topographic ellipsoids of the surface, demonstrating that the terraces are aligned to an internal structure of discontinuities, which is unevenly exposed on the surface, suggesting a complex history of localized material removal from the nucleus.
|
|
| 43. |
- Pommerol, A., et al.
(författare)
-
OSIRIS observations of meter-sized exposures of H2O ice at the surface of 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko and interpretation using laboratory experiments
- 2015
-
Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 583
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Since OSIRIS started acquiring high-resolution observations of the surface of the nucleus of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, over one hundred meter-sized bright spots have been identified in numerous types of geomorphologic regions, but mostly located in areas receiving low insolation. The bright spots are either clustered, in debris fields close to decameter-high cliffs, or isolated without structural relation to the surrounding terrain. They can be up to ten times brighter than the average surface of the comet at visible wavelengths and display a significantly bluer spectrum. They do not exhibit significant changes over a period of a few weeks. All these observations are consistent with exposure of water ice at the surface of boulders produced by dislocation of the weakly consolidated layers that cover large areas of the nucleus. Laboratory experiments show that under simulated comet surface conditions, analog samples acquire a vertical stratification with an uppermost porous mantle of refractory dust overlaying a layer of hard ice formed by recondensation or sintering under the insulating dust mantle. The evolution of the visible spectrophotometric properties of samples during sublimation is consistent with the contrasts of brightness and color seen at the surface of the nucleus. Clustered bright spots are formed by the collapse of overhangs that is triggered by mass wasting of deeper layers. Isolated spots might be the result of the emission of boulders at low velocity that are redepositioned in other regions.
|
|
| 44. |
- Tubiana, C., et al.
(författare)
-
67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko : Activity between March and June 2014 as observed from Rosetta/OSIRIS
- 2015
-
Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 573
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aims. 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko is the target comet of the ESA's Rosetta mission. After commissioning at the end of March 2014, the Optical, Spectroscopic, and Infrared Remote Imaging System (OSIRIS) onboard Rosetta, started imaging the comet and its dust environment to investigate how they change and evolve while approaching the Sun. Methods. We focused our work on Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) orange images and Wide Angle Camera (WAC) red and visible-610 images acquired between 2014 March 23 and June 24 when the nucleus of 67P was unresolved and moving from approximately 4.3 AU to 3.8 AU inbound. During this period the 67P - Rosetta distance decreased from 5 million to 120 thousand km. Results. Through aperture photometry, we investigated how the comet brightness varies with heliocentric distance. 67P was likely already weakly active at the end of March 2014, with excess flux above that expected for the nucleus. The comet's brightness was mostly constant during the three months of approach observations, apart from one outburst that occurred around April 30 and a second increase in flux after June 20. Coma was resolved in the profiles from mid-April. Analysis of the coma morphology suggests that most of the activity comes from a source towards the celestial north pole of the comet, but the outburst that occurred on April 30 released material in a different direction.
|
|
| 45. |
- Vincent, J. -B, et al.
(författare)
-
Constraints on cometary surface evolution derived from a statistical analysis of 67P's topography
- 2017
-
Ingår i: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0035-8711 .- 1365-2966. ; 469, s. S329-S338
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present a statistical analysis of the distribution of large-scale topographic features on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. We observe that the cumulative cliff height distribution across the surface follows a power law with a slope equal to -1.69 +/- 0.02. When this distribution is studied independently for each region, we find a good correlation between the slope of the power law and the orbital erosion rate of the surface. For instance, the Northern hemisphere topography is dominated by structures on the 100 m scale, while the Southern hemisphere topography, illuminated at perihelion, is dominated by 10 m scale terrain features. Our study suggests that the current size of a cliff is controlled not only by material cohesion but also by the dominant erosional process in each region. This observation can be generalized to other comets, where we argue that primitive nuclei are characterized by the presence of large cliffs with a cumulative height-power index equal to or above -1.5, while older, eroded cometary surfaces have a power index equal to or below -2.3. In effect, our model shows that a measure of the topography provides a quantitative assessment of a comet's erosional history, that is, its evolutionary age.
|
|
| 46. |
- Agarwal, Jessica, et al.
(författare)
-
Acceleration of individual, decimetre-sized aggregates in the lower coma of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0035-8711 .- 1365-2966. ; 462, s. S78-S88
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present observations of decimetre-sized, likely ice-containing aggregates ejected from a confined region on the surface of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. The images were obtained with the narrow angle camera of the Optical, Spectroscopic, and Infrared Remote Imaging System on board the Rosetta spacecraft in 2016 January when the comet was at 2 au from the Sun outbound from perihelion. We measure the acceleration of individual aggregates through a 2 h image series. Approximately 50 per cent of the aggregates are accelerated away from the nucleus, and 50 per cent towards it, and likewise towards either horizontal direction. The accelerations are up to one order of magnitude stronger than local gravity, and are most simply explained by the combined effect of gas drag accelerating all aggregates upwards, and the recoil force from asymmetric outgassing, either from rotating aggregates with randomly oriented spin axes and sufficient thermal inertia to shift the temperature maximum away from an aggregate's subsolar region, or from aggregates with variable ice content. At least 10 per cent of the aggregates will escape the gravity field of the nucleus and feed the comet's debris trail, while others may fall back to the surface and contribute to the deposits covering parts of the Northern hemisphere. The rocket force plays a crucial role in pushing these aggregates back towards the surface. Our observations show the future back fall material in the process of ejection, and provide the first direct measurement of the acceleration of aggregates in the innermost coma (<2 km) of a comet, where gas drag is still significant.
|
|
| 47. |
- Barucci, M. A., et al.
(författare)
-
Detection of exposed H2O ice on the nucleus of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko as observed by Rosetta OSIRIS and VIRTIS instruments
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 595
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Context. Since the orbital insertion of the Rosetta spacecraft, comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko (67P) has been mapped by OSIRIS camera and VIRTIS spectro-imager, producing a huge quantity of images and spectra of the comet's nucleus. Aims. The aim of this work is to search for the presence of H2O on the nucleus which, in general, appears very dark and rich in dehydrated organic material. After selecting images of the bright spots which could be good candidates to search for H2O ice, taken at high resolution by OSIRIS, we check for spectral cubes of the selected coordinates to identify these spots observed by VIRTIS. Methods. The selected OSIRIS images were processed with the OSIRIS standard pipeline and corrected for the illumination conditions for each pixel using the Lommel-Seeliger disk law. The spots with higher I/F were selected and then analysed spectrophotometrically and compared with the surrounding area. We selected 13 spots as good targets to be analysed by VIRTIS to search for the 2 mu m absorption band of water ice in the VIRTIS spectral cubes. Results. Out of the 13 selected bright spots, eight of them present positive H2O ice detection on the VIRTIS data. A spectral analysis was performed and the approximate temperature of each spot was computed. The H2O ice content was confirmed by modeling the spectra with mixing (areal and intimate) of H2O ice and dark terrain, using Hapke's radiative transfer modeling. We also present a detailed analysis of the detected spots.
|
|
| 48. |
- Bertini, I., et al.
(författare)
-
Search for satellites near comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko using Rosetta/OSIRIS images
- 2015
-
Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 583
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Context. The European Space Agency Rosetta mission reached and started escorting its main target, the Jupiter-family comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, at the beginning of August 2014. Within the context of solar system small bodies, satellite searches from approaching spacecraft were extensively used in the past to study the nature of the visited bodies and their collisional environment. Aims. During the approaching phase to the comet in July 2014, the OSIRIS instrument onboard Rosetta performed a campaign aimed at detecting objects in the vicinity of the comet nucleus and at measuring these objects' possible bound orbits. In addition to the scientific purpose, the search also focused on spacecraft security to avoid hazardous material in the comet's environment. Methods. Images in the red spectral domain were acquired with the OSIRIS Narrow Angle Camera, when the spacecraft was at a distance between 5785 km and 5463 km to the comet, following an observational strategy tailored to maximize the scientific outcome. From the acquired images, sources were extracted and displayed to search for plausible displacements of all sources from image to image. After stars were identified, the remaining sources were thoroughly analyzed. To place constraints on the expected displacements of a potential satellite, we performed Monte Carlo simulations on the apparent motion of potential satellites within the Hill sphere. Results. We found no unambiguous detections of objects larger than similar to 6 m within similar to 20 km and larger than similar to 1 m between similar to 20 km and similar to 110 km from the nucleus, using images with an exposure time of 0.14 s and 1.36 s, respectively. Our conclusions are consistent with independent works on dust grains in the comet coma and on boulders counting on the nucleus surface. Moreover, our analysis shows that the comet outburst detected at the end of April 2014 was not strong enough to eject large objects and to place them into a stable orbit around the nucleus. Our findings underline that it is highly unlikely that large objects survive for a long time around cometary nuclei.
|
|
| 49. |
- Bertini, I., et al.
(författare)
-
The scattering phase function of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko coma as seen from the Rosetta/OSIRIS instrument
- 2017
-
Ingår i: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. - : OXFORD UNIV PRESS. - 0035-8711 .- 1365-2966. ; 469, s. S404-S415
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The study of dust, the most abundant material in cometary nuclei, is pivotal in understanding the original materials forming the Solar system. Measuring the coma phase function provides a tool to investigate the nature of cometary dust. Rosetta/OSIRIS sampled the coma phase function of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, covering a large phase angle range in a small amount of time. Twelve series were acquired in the period from 2015 March to 2016 February for this scientific purpose. These data allowed, after stray light removal, measuring the phase function shape, its reddening, and phase reddening while varying heliocentric and nucleocentric distances. Despite small dissimilarities within different series, we found a constant overall shape. The reflectance has a u-shape with minimum at intermediate phase angles, reaching similar values at the smallest and largest phase angle sampled. The comparison with cometary phase functions in literature indicates OSIRIS curves being consistent with the ones found in many other single comets. The dust has a negligible phase reddening at alpha < 90 degrees, indicating a coma dominated by single scattering. We measured a reddening of [11-14] %/100 nm between 376 and 744 nm. No trend with heliocentric or nucleocentric distance was found, indicating the coma doesn't change its spectrum with time. These results are consistent with single coma grains and close-nucleus coma photometric results. Comparison with nucleus photometry indicates a different backscattering phase function shape and similar reddening values only at alpha < 30 degrees. At larger phase angles, the nucleus becomes significantly redder than the coma.
|
|
| 50. |
- Bodewits, D., et al.
(författare)
-
Changes in the physical environment of the inner coma of 67p/churyumov-gerasimenko with decreasing heliocentric distance
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Astronomical Journal. - : IOP PUBLISHING LTD. - 0004-6256 .- 1538-3881. ; 152:5
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Wide Angle Camera of the OSIRIS instrument on board the Rosetta spacecraft is equipped with several narrow-band filters that are centered on the emission lines and bands of various fragment species. These are used to determine the evolution of the production and spatial distribution of the gas in the inner coma of comet 67P with time and heliocentric distance, here between 2.6 and 1.3 au pre-perihelion. Our observations indicate that the emission observed in the OH, OI, CN, NH, and NH2 filters is mostly produced by dissociative electron impact excitation of different parent species. We conclude that CO2 rather than H2O is a significant source of the [OI] 630 nm emission. A strong plume-like feature observed in the CN and OI filters is present throughout our observations. This plume is not present in OH emission and indicates a local enhancement of the CO2/H2O ratio by as much as a factor of 3. We observed a sudden decrease in intensity levels after 2015 March, which we attribute to decreased electron temperatures in the first few kilometers above the surface of the nucleus.
|
|
