Interplanetary dust at Venus and its detection
Abstract
Interplanetary Dust Particles (IDPs) exist everywhere in the interplanetary space of the solar system. The dust particles are expected to be originated from the asteroid belt and their orbits are affected by the solar wind and drag force. The bigger particles (> 0.1 µm) travel inward, toward the Sun, while smaller particles are swept out due to the solar wind. These particles may be captured by planets on their ways or they continue travelling inward. Those particles, which are captured by the planet will undergo the ablation in the atmosphere and leave metal ions. The conductivity of the atmosphere is affected by the entering IDPs. The IDP flux was measured at Earth earlier and a model was given by Grun et al. (1985). Though, there are some measurements of the IDP between Earth and Venus, there are no detailed measurements of the IDPs around Venus. Thus, it is interesting to know IDP flux at Venus through theoretical investigations. In addition, a dedicated dust instrument on future Venus orbiter may be helpful to measure the IDP flux at Venus. To study flux of IDP and its possible distribution, a Venus Orbiter Dust Experiment (VODEX) is proposed. Further a prototype of an impact ionization dust detector was made at PRL. The developmental work of the dust detector is underway. This paper presents dust scenario at Venus and the developmental aspects of dust detector.
- Publication:
-
43rd COSPAR Scientific Assembly. Held 28 January - 4 February
- Pub Date:
- January 2021
- Bibcode:
- 2021cosp...43E.774P