Dynamics and Transport of Nanometer-Size Dust Particles Generated in the Inner Heliosphere

Interplanetary dust particles (IDPs) make up a fraction of matter in the heliosphere. IDPs are mostly generated through collisions of larger asteroid and cometary material. IDPs slowly spiral toward the Sun due to the Poynting Robertson drag, where the dust density and collision rate is expected to increase with distance toward the Sun. Solar wind-dust interactions represent a missing piece in our understanding of the interaction and flow of matter in the heliosphere. Inner solar system dust populations and their interaction with/influence on the solar wind (e.g., potential link to inner source pickup ions and solar wind transient structures) is a largely unexplored question. We report on our investigation in the formation, dynamics, and transport of dust in the inner heliosphere through solar influence and interaction with the solar wind and transient structures such as interplanetary coronal mass ejections. Charged nanometer-size dust particles are expected to be generated close to the Sun and interact strongly with the solar wind. Those generated outside of 0.15 AU are picked up and transported away from the Sun due to the electromagnetic forces exerted by the solar wind. We model the dynamics of nano-dust through their interaction with the solar wind and explore the potential for their detection and the ultimate investigation of solar wind-dust influences. Nano-dust flux, size, and chemical composition measurements, combined with solar wind magnetic field and particle measurements can be paired with dust dynamics modeling to improve our understanding of the dust environment near the Sun and its interaction with the solar wind.