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Micron-Sized Dust Particles Detected in the Outer Solar System by the Voyager 1 and 2 Plasma Wave InstrumentsDuring the Voyager 1 and 2 flybys of the outer planets it has been demonstrated that the plasma wave instrument can detect small dust particles striking the spacecraft. In this paper, we examine the Voyager plasma wave data for dust impacts in the interplanetary medium at heliocentric radial distances ranging from 6 to 60 astronomical units (AU). The results show that a small but persistent level of dust impacts exists out to at least 30 to 50 AU. The average number density of these particles is about 2 x 10(exp -8)/cu m, and the average mass of the impacting particles is believed to be a few times 10(exp -11) g, which corresponds to particle diameters in the micron range. Possible sources of these particles are planets, moons, asteroids, comets, and the interstellar medium. Of these, comets appear to be the most likely source. ne number densities are only weakly dependent on ecliptic latitude, which indicates that the particles probably do not originate from planets, moons, or asteroids. Comparisons with interstellar dust fluxes measured in the inner regions of the solar system by the Ulysses spacecraft indicate that the particles are not of interstellar origin.
Document ID
19990009735
Acquisition Source
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Gurnett, D. A.
(Iowa Univ. Iowa City, IA United States)
Ansher, J. A.
(Iowa Univ. Iowa City, IA United States)
Kurth, W. S.
(Iowa Univ. Iowa City, IA United States)
Granroth, L. J.
(Iowa Univ. Iowa City, IA United States)
Date Acquired
August 19, 2013
Publication Date
December 15, 1997
Publication Information
Publication: Geophysical Research Letters
Publisher: American Geophysical Union
Volume: 24
Issue: 24
ISSN: 0094-8534
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Report/Patent Number
Paper 97GL03228
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: JPL-959193
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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