Radiation pressure and Poynting-Robertson drag for small spherical particlesRobertson's expression for the velocity-dependent effect of solar radiation on the motion of small particles is difficult because of its dependence on relativistic considerations, and it is also deficient in that it assumes perfectly absorbing particles. The present paper gives a heuristic derivation of the Poynting-Robertson effect. Robertson's expression for perfectly absorbing particles is obtained but on a much simpler physical basis, and an expression is also obtained for a particle that in general scatters, transmits, and absorbs light. Some numerical results on the solar radiation forces felt by small particles of cosmochemically important compositions are given.
Document ID
19780035859
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Authors
Soter, S. (Cornell University Ithaca, N.Y., United States)
Burns, J. A. (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, Calif., United States)
Lamy, P. L. (CNRS Laboratoire d'Astronomie Spatiale, Marseille, France)