Modeling thermal changes in the surface of the Sikhote-Alin meteorite

Heat-induced changes in the surface layers of the Sikhote-Alin meteorite are simulated in an attempt to determine the length of the final stage of meteorite motion, at which ablation stops. Samples of the inner portion of the meteorite were exposed to an explosive discharge plasma or an electrical discharge plasma at temperatures from 10,000 to 60,000 K, and the resulting meteoritic microstructures were compared with those of the original inner and surface material. The surface characteristics of the meteoritic crust are found to be reproduced by various combinations of heating time and temperature leading to heating depths of approximately 0.02 to 0.7 mm, which indicate that the transition period during which melting has stopped and the heating wave penetrated deep into the object lasted approximately 0.07 sec