The role of activity on the evolution of primordial nucleus structures and morphology of Jupiter Family Comets

• Applicant: Dr. Ladislav Rezac
• Subject Area: Astrophysics and Astronomy
• Term: from 2018 to 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 392267849

On the basis of dynamics and thermodynamics of comets, we are going to investigate the role of cometary activity on the evolution of primordial nucleus shape and morphology of Jupiter Family Comets (JFCs). Armed with the new findings provided by the Rosetta mission to 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko (67P/CG) the aim is to investigate whether and which structural/geomorphological features seen on the nucleus could survive pristine over a long time periods.With the combination of orbit evolution, spin states and cometary activity, we plan to utilize the unprecedented amount and quality of data provided by Rosetta and focus on the following key questions of JFCs: a) nucleus shape and large scale surface morphology regulation resulted from ice sublimation and mass transport, b) the effect of outgassing and dust movements on rotational station change and nucleus breakdown due to spin up, c) the preservation of primordial structure and volatile materials during different time scales of cometary evolution process. This modeling study will draw information on the various input from the Rosetta as well as the previous space missions to comets (StarDust and EPOXI). The aim is not only to study the 67P/CG, but indeed construct a physically representative surrogates of the JFCs type objects to derive meaningful statistical conclusions. These created models will be used to study the parameters of the orbit dynamical model, rotational dynamical model, heat transfer model as well as physical inter/intra-hemispheric mass transport model. In order to properly address the relevant science, the study period is divided into three epoch, long, medium and short, where the shorter the period in consideration the more detailed the modeling can be made down to local scales as seen on the 67P/CG. Based on this approach we will draw not only probabilistic conclusions about the evolution of JFCs, but more deterministic interpretation of the valuable data delivered by Rosetta as well.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: China
• Partner Organisation: National Natural Science Foundation of China
• Cooperation Partner: Dr. Yuhui Zhao