The influence of the internal structure of particles on the polarization properties of comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1
Abstract
Polarimetric observations of comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 were carried out on the 2.0-m telescope of the Terskol Peak Observatory and on the 2.6-m telescope of the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory in the period from 2018–2022. The range of phase angles covered by the observations was from 2 ° up to 9.6 °. Observations revealed a significant difference in the degree of linear polarization of comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 at the same phase angle at different observation times. To explain this fact, computer simulation of light scattering by radially porous fractal particles was carried out. It is shown that changes in the internal structure of scattering particles noticeably affect not only the intensity, but also the degree of polarization of the scattered light. As the scattering particle becomes fluffier, this simultaneously leads to an increase in the intensity and degree of linear polarization of the scattered light. Consequently, changes in the degree of polarization can be explained by morphological changes in the internal structure of the cometary material. This paper is based on a talk presented at VIII Bredikhin conference.
- Publication:
-
INASAN Science Reports
- Pub Date:
- December 2023
- DOI:
- 10.51194/INASAN.2023.8.6.008
- Bibcode:
- 2023INASR...8..299P
- Keywords:
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- comets;
- linear polarization degree;
- computer simulation