| Abstract: | Observations of the inner coma of Comet 19P/Borrelly with the camera on the Deep Space 1 spacecraft revealed several highly collimated dust jets emanating from the nucleus. The observed jets can be produced by acceleration of evolved gas from a subsurface cavity through a narrow orifice to the surface. As long as the cavity is larger than the orifice, the pressure in the cavity will be greater than the ambient pressure in the coma and the flow from the geyser will be supersonic. The gas flow becomes collimated as the sound speed is approached and dust entrainment in the gas flow creates the observed jets. Outside the cavity, the expanding gas loses its collimated character, but the density drops rapidly decoupling the dust and gas, allowing the dust to continue in a collimated beam. The hypothesis proposed here can explain the jets seen in the inner coma of Comet 1P/Halley as well, and may be a primary mechanism for cometary activity. ?? 2003 Published by Elsevier Inc. |
| Genre: | Article |
| ProdID: | 70027691 |
| Citation Author: | Yelle, R. V.; Soderblom, L. A.; Jokipii, J. R. |
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| Citation End Page: | 36 |
| Citation Issue: | 1 |
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| Citation Language: | English |
| Citation Larger Work Title: | Icarus |
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| Citation Number Of Pages: | 7 |
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| Citation Search Results Text: | Formation of jets in Comet 19P/Borrelly by subsurface geysers; 2004; Article; Journal; Icarus; Yelle, R. V.; Soderblom, L. A.; Jokipii, J. R. |
| Citation Start Page: | 30 |
| Citation Volume: | 167 |
| Citation Year: | 2004 |
| Type: | citation/reference |
| Text: | Formation of jets in Comet 19P/Borrelly by subsurface geysers; 2004; Article; Journal; Icarus; Yelle, R. V.; Soderblom, L. A.; Jokipii, J. R. |
| URL (THUMBNAIL): | http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/thumbnails/outside_thumb.jpg |
| URL (DIGITAL OBJECT IDENTIFIER): | http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2003.08.020 |
| Date Other: | Thu, 1 Jan 2004 00:00 -0600 |
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