In situ exploration of the dusty coma of comet P/Halley at Giotto's encounter: Nucleus emission and production rates from temporal variability
McDonnell, J. A. M.; Pankiewicz, G. S.; Perry, C. H.
United Kingdom
Abstract
Flux-time profiles from the DIDSY and PIA experiments, taken at Giotto's encounter with comet P/Halley, are used to study coma dust dynamics and the nucleus emission. A comparison of the data with a `fountain' model, incorporating variable source function and grain type is made. Local enhancements such as jets, envelopes and terminators are analysed. Jetting appears to account for the dominant featurers, and the data are consistent with a nucleus spin of ~ 50 hours, for a specific velocity distribution.