Analysis of comet rotation through modeling of features in the coma

Author

Ien Harris, Mississippi State UniversityFollow

ORCID

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2700-9617

Issuing Body

Mississippi State University

Advisor

Pierce, Donna M.

Committee Member

Tanner, Angelle

Committee Member

Clay, Torsten

Date of Degree

5-13-2022

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Open Access

Major

Physics

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.)

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Department of Physics and Astronomy

Abstract

An integral field unit fiber array spectrograph was used to observe the emission spectra of radical species (C2, C3, CH, CN, and NH2) in multiple comets. The resultant azimuthal and radial division maps produced from the reduced data provide a unique method of analyzing features with these radicals in the comae, as well as how they behave over time. A Monte Carlo model was developed in order to simulate the behavior of particles from the outer nucleus and coma of each comet depending on various parameters including rotational period, outflow velocity, and active area location. The results from the model were used to constrain the physical parameters of three comets: 10P/Tempel 2, C/2009 P1 (Garradd), and 168P/Hergenrother.

Recommended Citation

Harris, Ien, "Analysis of comet rotation through modeling of features in the coma" (2022). Theses and Dissertations. 5469.
https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/td/5469