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Peltier Lowell MSC PHY Spring2020.Pdf (6.662Mb) Vulcanoids: An Examination of the Intra-Mercurial Region A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of Master of Science In Physics University of Regina By Lowell Francis Peltier Regina, Saskatchewan September, 2019 Copyright 2019: L. Peltier UNIVERSITY OF REGINA FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES AND RESEARCH SUPERVISORY AND EXAMINING COMMITTEE Lowell Francis Peltier, candidate for the degree of Master of Science in Physics, has presented a thesis titled, Vulcanoids: An Examination of the Intra-Mercurial Region, in an oral examination held on August 30, 2019. The following committee members have found the thesis acceptable in form and content, and that the candidate demonstrated satisfactory knowledge of the subject material. External Examiner: Dr. Ian Coulson, Department of Geology Supervisor: Dr. Martin Beech, Department of Physics Committee Member: Dr. Gwen Grinyer, Department of Physics Committee Member: Dr. Nader Mobed, Department of Physics Chair of Defense: Dr. Philippe Mather, Campion College *Not present at defense Abstract A review and discussion of the historical and modern ideas pertaining to the vulcanoid region of our solar system, and the theoretical asteroid population therein is presented here. Current observations constrain the maximum possible vulcanoid object size to somewhere between 5 and 10 km in diameter. Any object larger than this located within the putative vulcanoid zone, the region 0.06 AU to 0.25 AU away from the sun, should have been observed in past observations. With this in mind any modern day vulcanoid population would be small in number and size, but as yet, there is no compelling reason to rule out a population in general. This work explores the physical processes at work in the vulcanoid zone, primarily thermal (sublimation mass loss) and radiative (Poynting- Robertson drag, The Yarkovsky effect) effects are considered in this analysis. A key insight is the role that the variation in the luminosity of the sun over its lifespan has on the thermal and radiative effects inherent in the vulcanoid zone. In addition, the protective effects of a regolith composition are examined. Additionally, collisional effects, unipolar heating, and radiative rotational effects (YORP effect) are briefly explored. All of these effects will alter the lifespan of an asteroid in the region against destruction. Potential lifespans under various assumed initial conditions are explored and compared. Results show that the existence of vulcanoids in the modern day, and even at the end of the sun’s lifespan, is quite possible. Observational evidence presents a bleaker view of the putative vulcanoid population, but does not rule out the possibility entirely. Keywords: Vulcanoid Asteroids, Orbital Evolution, Thermal Processing, Radiative Drag, Variable Luminosity, Regolith, Detection Methods i Acknowledgements I would like to thank my supervisor Dr. Martin Beech. His guidance and humor has made this entire process more fun than it had any right to be. Without his direction none of this would have been possible. I would like to thank my committee members Dr. Gwen Grinyer and Dr. Nader Mobed. Their astute and helpful suggestions have ensured this work is the highest quality it can be. I would like to acknowledge the contributions the entire physics department has made to my graduate work and physics education in general. My time teaching labs in the physics department has been an invaluable aspect of my time at the University of Regina. ii Table of Contents Abstract ............................................................................................................................... i Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................ ii Table of Contents .............................................................................................................. iii List of Tables ..................................................................................................................... v List of Figures ................................................................................................................... vi Chapter 1: Introduction ................................................................ 1 1.1 History and Background ..................................................................................... 1 1.2 21st Century Perspective ..................................................................................... 7 1.3 Definition of the Vulcanoid Region ................................................................... 9 Chapter 2: Sun-Grazing Comets ................................................ 11 2.1 Cometary Impact Modification ........................................................................ 11 2.2 Impact Probability and Effects ......................................................................... 16 2.3 Conclusions ...................................................................................................... 19 Chapter 3: Solar Radiation Effects ............................................ 21 3.1 Material Properties ........................................................................................... 21 3.2 Solar Luminosity Variation .............................................................................. 23 3.3 Sublimation ....................................................................................................... 25 3.4 Poynting-Robertson Drag ................................................................................. 29 3.5 The Yarkovsky Effect ....................................................................................... 32 3.6 Induction Heating ............................................................................................. 42 Chapter 4: Results ....................................................................... 46 4.1 Parameters ........................................................................................................ 46 4.2 Obliquity of 45° ................................................................................................ 48 4.3 Obliquity of 135° .............................................................................................. 53 4.4 Random Obliquities .......................................................................................... 59 Chapter 5: Future Work ............................................................. 69 5.1 Material Refinements ....................................................................................... 69 iii 5.2 Internal Vulcanoid Structure ............................................................................ 69 5.3 Rotational effects .............................................................................................. 70 5.4 Collisional Evolution ........................................................................................ 73 5.5 Dust Rings of the Inner Solar System .............................................................. 76 5.6 Exoplanetary Application ................................................................................. 77 5.7 Red Giants, White Dwarfs, and Planetary Remnants ....................................... 78 5.8 Migration .......................................................................................................... 78 5.9 Direct Detection ................................................................................................ 79 Chapter 6: Conclusions ............................................................... 80 References ..................................................................................... 83 Appendix: Simulation Code ........................................................ 88 iv List of Tables Table 2.1 – Table of Comets ............................................................................................ 15 Table 3.1 – Material Properties ........................................................................................ 22 v List of Figures Figure 1.1 – The Vulcanoid Zone .................................................................................... 10 Figure 2.1 – Ecliptic Crossing Points ............................................................................... 14 Figure 3.1 – Luminosity Variation ................................................................................... 24 Figure 3.2 – Variable Luminosity Survival Lifetimes ..................................................... 28 Figure 3.3 – Poynting-Robertson Drag ............................................................................ 30 Figure 3.4 – The Yarkovsky Effect .................................................................................. 33 Figure 3.5 – Radiative Drag for Various Obliquities ....................................................... 39 Figure 3.6 – Vulcanoid Orbital Position Under Radiative Drag ...................................... 41 Figure 3.7 – Induction Heating ........................................................................................ 44 Figure 4.1 – Orbital Position vs Time at 45° ................................................................... 49 Figure 4.2 – Fayalite Lifetime – 45° ................................................................................ 51 Figure 4.3 – Regolith Lifetime – 45° ............................................................................... 52 Figure 4.4 – Orbital Position
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