Sungrazing comets: Properties of nuclei and in-situ detectability of cometary ions at 1 AU

Abstract

A one dimensional sublimation model for cometary nuclei is used to derive size limits for the nuclei of sungrazing comets, and to estimate oxygen ion fluxes at 1 AU from their evaporation. Given that none of the ~300 sungrazers detected by the SOlar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) was observed after disappearing behind the sun, and that small nuclei with a radius of ~3.5m could be observed, it is assumed that all SOHO sungrazers were completely destroyed. For the case that sublimation alone is sufficient for destruction, the model yields an upper size limit as a function of nuclear density, albedo and perihelion distance. If the density of the nuclei is that typical of porous ice (600kg/m^3), the maximum size is 63m. These results confirm similar model calculations by Weissman (1983). An analytical expression is derived that approximates the model results well. We discuss possible modifications of our results by different disruption mechanisms. While disruption by thermal stress does not change the upper size limits significantly, they may be somewhat increased by tidal disruption (up to 100m for a density of 600kg/m^3) dependent on the isotropy of the sublimation process and the tensile strength of the comet. Implications for the Kreutz family of sungrazers are discussed. Oxygen ions from the sublimation of sungrazing comets form a tail. Fluxes from this tail are sufficiently high to be measured at 1 AU by particle detectors on spacecraft, but the duration of a tail crossing is only about half an hour. Therefore the probability of a spacecraft actually encountering a tail of an evaporating sungrazer is only of the order of two percent per year.