Comet Hyakutake: thermal evolution model
Abstract
Comet Hyakutake was discovered in 1996 and its activity was monitored from several observers with different technique. Here, we have tried to reproduce the comet gas and dust production using a thermal evolution model of comet nuclei. The model solves the heat conduction and gas diffusion equations across an idealised spherical nucleus. For these models, we consider a comet nucleus containing water and CO ices in different proportions. Grains that are embedded in the icy matrix make the refractory component: the code is able to account for two different dust distributions with independent physical properties at the same time. From the outcomes of these different simulations, we have seen that the general behaviour of this comet can be explained but there are still some open questions, especially in terms of the sporadic activity that seems superimposed to the regular emission.
- Publication:
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Asteroids, Comets, and Meteors: ACM 2002
- Pub Date:
- November 2002
- Bibcode:
- 2002ESASP.500..669D
- Keywords:
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- Comets: Thermal Evolution