Dust particle emission dynamics from insolated ice/dust mixtures: results from the KOSI 5 experiment

In comet simulation (KOSI) experiments mineral-ice mixtures are studied under space conditions. In this paper the temporal variation of emission events is studied during the irradiation phase in the experiment KOSI 5. Physical properties like mass, size and mean mass density of emitted dust particles are investigated. Dynamical parameters of the particle motion are determined from recorded trajectories close to the sample surface. The drag coefficient governing the momentum transfer from the released gas to the emitted particle is also estimated. From the trajectories, the spatial distribution of starting points of the respective particles on the sample surface is estimated. These results suggest a sample surface development in two phases: formation of dry dust particles on the surface and, subsequently, further increase of the dust mantle.