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[26.04] From Light Scattering to Physical Properties of Cometary Dust

A.C. Levasseur-Regourd (Univ. Paris VI / Aeronomie CNRS), E. Hadamcik (Aeronomie CNRS), J.B. Renard (LPCE CNRS)

New observations of the light scattering properties of cometary dust are presented (with emphasis on polarization), and compared with the observations previously performed on various comets (1). The results are compared to those derived from other observations (e.g. silicate emission feature) and from light scattering laboratory simulations (e.g. PROGRA2, ICAPS-SRE).

Such laboratory experiments avoid sedimentation and multiple scattering on gravity packed layers, and should in a near future allow the formation of particles and aggregates that are representative of cometary dust (2). Some characteristics of the physical properties of the dust and of the coma environment, which is likely to be encountered by future space missions (Stardust, Deep Impact, Rosetta), are tentatively derived.

Supports of Programme National de Planétologie for the observations, and of CNES and ESA for the laboratory simulations, are acknowledged.

1. E. Hadamcik and A.C. Levasseur-Regourd, JQSRT, 79-80, 661-678, 2003. 2. A.C. Levasseur-Regourd and E. Hadamcik, JQSRT, 7-80, 903-910, 2003.

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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 35 #4
© 2003. The American Astronomical Soceity.