arXiv subjects

Christopher T. Russell

Publications and source records attributed to Christopher T. Russell.

32 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2018

Spectrophotometric Modeling and Mapping of Ceres

We report a comprehensive analysis of the global spectrophotometric properties of Ceres using Dawn Framing Camera images collected from April to June 2015 during the RC3 and Survey mission phases. The single-scattering albedo of Ceres at 555 nm is 0.14$\pm$0.04, the geometric albedo is 0.096$\pm$0.006, and the Bond albedo is 0.037$\pm$0.002. The asymmetry factors calculated from the best-fit two-term Henyey-Greenstein (HG) single-particle phase function (SPPF) show a wavelength dependence, suggesting that the phase reddening of Ceres is dominated by single-particle scattering rather than multiple scattering or small-scale surface roughness. The Hapke roughness parameter of Ceres is derived to be 20$^\circ\pm$6$^\circ$ with no wavelength dependence. The phase function of Ceres shows appreciably strong scattering around 90$^\circ$ phase angle that cannot be fitted with a single-term HG SPPF, suggesting possible stronger forward scattering than other asteroids previously analyzed with spacecraft data. We speculate that such a scattering characteristic of Ceres might be related to its unique surface composition. We grouped the reflectance data into a 1$^\circ$ latitude-longitude grid and fitted each grid independently to study the spatial variations of photometric properties. The albedo and color maps are consistent with previous studies. The SPPF over the surface of Ceres shows stronger backscattering associated with lower albedo and vice versa, consistent with the general trend among asteroids. The Hapke roughness parameter does not vary much across the surface of Ceres, except for the ancient Vendimia Planitia region that has a slightly higher roughness. Based on the wavelength dependence of the SPPF of Ceres, we hypothesize that its regolith grains either contain a considerable fraction of $\lessapproxμ$m-sized particles, or are strongly affected by internal scatterers of this size.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2018

Observational evidence of magnetic reconnection in the terrestrial bow shock transition region

We report evidence of magnetic reconnection in the transition region of the terrestrial bow shock when the angle between the shock normal and the immediate upstream magnetic field is 65 degrees. An ion-skin-depth-scale current sheet exhibits the Hall current and field pattern, electron outflow jet, and enhanced energy conversion rate through the nonideal electric field, all consistent with a reconnection diffusion region close to the X-line. In the diffusion region, electrons are modulated by electromagnetic waves. An ion exhaust with energized field-aligned ions and electron parallel heating are observed in the same shock transition region. The energized ions are more separated from the inflowing ions in velocity above the current sheet than below, possibly due to the shear flow between the two inflow regions. The observation suggests that magnetic reconnection may contribute to shock energy dissipation.

physics.space-ph↗

arXiv2018

Ceres' opposition effect observed by the Dawn framing camera

The surface reflectance of planetary regoliths may increase dramatically towards zero phase angle, a phenomenon known as the opposition effect (OE). Two physical processes that are thought to be the dominant contributors to the brightness surge are shadow hiding (SH) and coherent backscatter (CB). The occurrence of shadow hiding in planetary regoliths is self-evident, but it has proved difficult to unambiguously demonstrate CB from remote sensing observations. One prediction of CB theory is the wavelength dependence of the OE angular width. The Dawn spacecraft observed the OE on the surface of dwarf planet Ceres. We characterize the OE over the resolved surface, including the bright Cerealia Facula, and to find evidence for SH and/or CB. We analyze images of the Dawn framing camera by means of photometric modeling of the phase curve. We find that the OE of most of the investigated surface has very similar characteristics, with an enhancement factor of 1.4 and a FWHM of 3° (broad OE). A notable exception are the fresh ejecta of the Azacca crater, which display a very narrow brightness enhancement that is restricted to phase angles $< 0.5$° (narrow OE); suggestively, this is in the range in which CB is thought to dominate. We do not find a wavelength dependence for the width of the broad OE, and lack the data to investigate the dependence for the narrow OE. The prediction of a wavelength-dependent CB width is rather ambiguous. The zero-phase observations allow us to determine Ceres' visible geometric albedo as $p_V = 0.094 \pm 0.005$. A comparison with other asteroids suggests that Ceres' broad OE is typical for an asteroid of its spectral type, with characteristics that are primarily linked to surface albedo. Our analysis suggests that CB may occur on the dark surface of Ceres in a highly localized fashion.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2018

How accurately can we measure the reconnection rate $E_M$ for the MMS diffusion region event of 2017-07-11?

We investigate the accuracy with which the reconnection electric field $E_M$ can be determined from in-situ plasma data. We study the magnetotail electron diffusion region observed by NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) on 2017-07-11 at 22:34 UT and focus on the very large errors in $E_M$ that result from errors in an $LMN$ boundary-normal coordinate system. We determine several $LMN$ coordinates for this MMS event using several different methods. We use these $M$ axes to estimate $E_M$. We find some consensus that the reconnection rate was roughly $E_M$=3.2 mV/m $\pm$ 0.06 mV/m, which corresponds to a normalized reconnection rate of $0.18\pm0.035$. Minimum variance analysis of the electron velocity (MVA-$v_e$), MVA of $E$, minimization of Faraday residue, and an adjusted version of the maximum directional derivative of the magnetic field (MDD-$B$) technique all produce {reasonably} similar coordinate axes. We use virtual MMS data from a particle-in-cell simulation of this event to estimate the errors in the coordinate axes and reconnection rate associated with MVA-$v_e$ and MDD-$B$. The $L$ and $M$ directions are most reliably determined by MVA-$v_e$ when the spacecraft observes a clear electron jet reversal. When the magnetic field data has errors as small as 0.5\% of the background field strength, the $M$ direction obtained by MDD-$B$ technique may be off by as much as 35$^\circ$. The normal direction is most accurately obtained by MDD-$B$. Overall, we find that these techniques were able to identify $E_M$ from the virtual data within error bars $\geq$20\%.

physics.space-ph↗

arXiv2016

Surface Albedo and Spectral Variability of Ceres

Previous observations suggested that Ceres has active but possibly sporadic water outgassing, and possibly varying spectral characteristics in a time scale of months. We used all available data of Ceres collected in the past three decades from the ground and the Hubble Space Telescope, and the newly acquired images by Dawn Framing Camera to search for spectral and albedo variability on Ceres, in both a global scale and local regions, particularly the bright spots inside Occator crater, over time scales of a few months to decades. Our analysis has placed an upper limit on the possible temporal albedo variation on Ceres. Sporadic water vapor venting, or any possibly ongoing activity on Ceres, is not significant enough to change the albedo or the area of the bright features in Occator crater by >15%, or the global albedo by >3% over various time scales that we searched. Recently reported spectral slope variations can be explained by changing Sun-Ceres-Earth geometry. The active area on Ceres is less than 1 km$^2$, too small to cause global albedo and spectral variations detectable in our data. Impact ejecta due to impacting projectiles of tens of meters in size like those known to cause observable changes to the surface albedo on Asteroid Scheila cannot cause detectable albedo change on Ceres due to its relatively large size and strong gravity. The water vapor activity on Ceres is independent of Ceres' heliocentric distance, rulling out the possibility of comet-like sublimation process as a possible mechanism driving the activity.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2015

Hot flow anomaly remnant in the far geotail?

A hot flow anomaly (HFA) like event was observed by the Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory (STEREO) in the night side magnetosheath in the far tail in February-March 2007. The magnetic signature of the tangential discontinuity was visible, but the resolution of the plasma ion data is not sufficient for our analysis, so a method is given to identify HFAs without solar wind velocity measurements. The event observed in the night side magnetosheath in the far tail might be the remnant of an HFA event, a not-so-active current sheet. This observation suggests that the lifetime of the HFAs might be several 10 minutes, much longer than the expected several minutes.

physics.space-ph↗

arXiv2014

Olivine-rich exposures at Bellicia and Arruntia craters on (4) Vesta from Dawn FC

We present an analysis of the olivine-rich exposures at Bellicia and Arruntia craters using Dawn Framing Camera (FC) color data. Our results confirm the existence of olivine-rich materials at these localities as described by Ammannito et al. (2013a) using Visual Infrared Spectrometer (VIR) data. Analyzing laboratory spectra of various Howardite-Eucrite-Diogenite meteorites, high-Ca pyroxenes, olivines and olivine-orthopyroxene mixtures, we derive three FC spectral band parameters that are indicators of olivine-rich materials. Combining the three band parameters allows us, for the first time, to reliably identify sites showing modal olivine contents >40%. The olivine-rich exposures at Bellicia and Arruntia are mapped using higher spatial resolution FC data. The exposures are located on the slopes of outer/inner crater walls, on the floor of Arruntia, in the ejecta, as well as in nearby fresh small impact craters. The spatial extent of the exposures ranges from a few hundred meters to few kilometers. The olivine-rich exposures are in accordance with both the magma ocean and the serial magmatism model (e.g., Righter and Drake 1997; Yamaguchi et al. 1997). However, it remains unsolved why the olivine-rich materials are mainly concentrated in the northern hemisphere (~36-42° N, 46-74° E) and are almost absent in the Rheasilvia basin.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2014

Constraining the Cratering Chronology of Vesta

Vesta has a complex cratering history, with ancient terrains as well as recent large impacts that have led to regional resurfacing. Crater counts can help constrain the relative ages of different units on Vesta's surface, but converting those crater counts to absolute ages requires a chronology function. We present a cratering chronology based on the best current models for the dynamical evolution of asteroid belt, and calibrate it to Vesta using the record of large craters on its surface. While uncertainties remain, our chronology function is broadly consistent with an ancient surface of Vesta as well as other constraints such as the bombardment history of the rest of the inner Solar System and the Ar-Ar age distribution of howardite, eucrite and diogenite (HED) meteorites from Vesta.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2013

Global Photometric Properties of Asteroid (4) Vesta Observed with Dawn Framing Camera

Dawn spacecraft orbited Vesta for more than one year and collected a huge volume of multispectral, high-resolution data in the visible wavelengths with the Framing Camera. We present a detailed disk-integrated and disk-resolved photometric analysis using the Framing Camera images with the Minnaert model and the Hapke model, and report our results about the global photometric properties of Vesta. The photometric properties of Vesta show weak or no dependence on wavelengths, except for the albedo. At 554 nm, the global average geometric albedo of Vesta is 0.38+/-0.04, and the Bond albedo range is 0.20+/-0.02. The bolometric Bond albedo is 0.18+/-0.01. The phase function of Vesta is similar to those of S-type asteroids. Vesta's surface shows a single-peaked albedo distribution with a full-width-half-max ~17% relative to the global average. This width is much smaller than the full range of albedos (from ~0.55x to >2x global average) in localized bright and dark areas of a few tens of km in sizes, and is probably a consequence of significant regolith mixing on the global scale. Rheasilvia basin is about 10% brighter than the global average. The phase reddening of Vesta measured from Dawn Framing Camera images is comparable or slightly stronger than that of Eros as measured by the Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous mission, but weaker than previous measurements based on ground-based observations of Vesta and laboratory measurements of HED meteorites. The photometric behaviors of Vesta are best described by the Hapke model and the Akimov disk- function, when compared with the Minnaert model, Lommel-Seeliger model, and Lommel- Seeliger-Lambertian model. The traditional approach for photometric correction is validated for Vesta for >99% of its surface where reflectance is within +/-30% of global average.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2013

Olivine or Impact Melt: Nature of the "Orange" Material on Vesta from Dawn

NASA's Dawn mission observed a great variety of colored terrains on asteroid (4) Vesta during its survey with the Framing Camera (FC). Here we present a detailed study of the orange material on Vesta, which was first observed in color ratio images obtained by the FC and presents a red spectral slope. The orange material deposits can be classified into three types, a) diffuse ejecta deposited by recent medium-size impact craters (such as Oppia), b) lobate patches with well-defined edges, and c) ejecta rays from fresh-looking impact craters. The location of the orange diffuse ejecta from Oppia corresponds to the olivine spot nicknamed "Leslie feature" first identified by Gaffey (1997) from ground-based spectral observations. The distribution of the orange material in the FC mosaic is concentrated on the equatorial region and almost exclusively outside the Rheasilvia basin. Our in-depth analysis of the composition of this material uses complementary observations from FC, the visible and infrared spectrometer (VIR), and the Gamma Ray and Neutron Detector (GRaND). Combining the interpretations from the topography, geomorphology, color and spectral parameters, and elemental abundances, the most probable analog for the orange material on Vesta is impact melt.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2013

Comparing Dawn, Hubble Space Telescope, and Ground-Based Interpretations of (4) Vesta

Observations of asteroid 4 Vesta by NASA's Dawn spacecraft are interesting because its surface has the largest range of albedo, color and composition of any other asteroid visited by spacecraft to date. These hemispherical and rotational variations in surface brightness and composition have been attributed to impact processes since Vesta's formation. Prior to Dawn's arrival at Vesta, its surface properties were the focus of intense telescopic investigations for nearly a hundred years. Ground-based photometric and spectroscopic observations first revealed these variations followed later by those using Hubble Space Telescope. Here we compare interpretations of Vesta's rotation period, pole, albedo, topographic, color, and compositional properties from ground-based telescopes and HST with those from Dawn. Rotational spectral variations observed from ground-based studies are also consistent with those observed by Dawn. While the interpretation of some of these features was tenuous from past data, the interpretations were reasonable given the limitations set by spatial resolution and our knowledge of Vesta and HED meteorites at that time. Our analysis shows that ground-based and HST observations are critical for our understanding of small bodies and provide valuable support for ongoing and future spacecraft missions.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2013

Lithologic Mapping of HED Terrains on Vesta using Dawn Framing Camera Color Data

The surface composition of Vesta, the most massive intact basaltic object in the asteroid belt, is interesting because it provides us with an insight into magmatic differentiation of planetesimals that eventually coalesced to form the terrestrial planets. The distribution of lithologic and compositional units on the surface of Vesta provides important constraints on its petrologic evolution, impact history and its relationship with Vestoids and howardite-eucrite-diogenite (HED) meteorites. Using color parameters (band tilt and band curvature) originally developed for analyzing lunar data, we have identified and mapped HED terrains on Vesta in Dawn Framing Camera (FC) color data. The average color spectrum of Vesta is identical to that of howardite regions, suggesting an extensive mixing of surface regolith due to impact gardening over the course of solar system history. Our results confirm the hemispherical dichotomy (east-west and north-south) in albedo/color/composition that has been observed by earlier studies. The presence of diogenite-rich material in the southern hemisphere suggests that it was excavated during the formation of the Rheasilvia and Veneneia basins. Our lithologic mapping of HED regions provides direct evidence for magmatic evolution of Vesta with diogenite units in Rheasilvia forming the lower crust of a differentiated object.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2012

Delivery of Dark Material to Vesta via Carbonaceous Chondritic Impacts

NASA's Dawn spacecraft observations of asteroid (4) Vesta reveal a surface with the highest albedo and color variation of any asteroid we have observed so far. Terrains rich in low albedo dark material (DM) have been identified using Dawn Framing Camera (FC) 0.75 μm filter images in several geologic settings: associated with impact craters (in the ejecta blanket material and/or on the crater walls and rims); as flow-like deposits or rays commonly associated with topographic highs; and as dark spots (likely secondary impacts) nearby impact craters. This DM could be a relic of ancient volcanic activity or exogenic in origin. We report that the majority of the spectra of DM are similar to carbonaceous chondrite meteorites mixed with materials indigenous to Vesta. Using high-resolution seven color images we compared DM color properties (albedo, band depth) with laboratory measurements of possible analog materials. Band depth and albedo of DM are identical to those of carbonaceous chondrite xenolith-rich howardite Mt. Pratt (PRA) 04401. Laboratory mixtures of Murchison CM2 carbonaceous chondrite and basaltic eucrite Millbillillie also show band depth and albedo affinity to DM. Modeling of carbonaceous chondrite abundance in DM (1-6 vol%) is consistent with howardite meteorites. We find no evidence for large-scale volcanism (exposed dikes/pyroclastic falls) as the source of DM. Our modeling efforts using impact crater scaling laws and numerical models of ejecta reaccretion suggest the delivery and emplacement of this DM on Vesta during the formation of the ~400 km Veneneia basin by a low-velocity (<2 km/sec) carbonaceous impactor. This discovery is important because it strengthens the long-held idea that primitive bodies are the source of carbon and probably volatiles in the early Solar System.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2011

Ultraviolet Spectroscopy of Asteroid (4) Vesta

We report a comprehensive review of the UV-visible spectrum and rotational lightcurve of Vesta combining new observations by Hubble Space Telescope and Swift Gamma-ray Burst Observatory with archival International Ultraviolet Explorer observations. The geometric albedos of Vesta from 220 nm to 953 nm are derived by carefully comparing these observations from various instruments at different times and observing geometries. Vesta has a rotationally averaged geometric albedo of 0.09 at 250 nm, 0.14 at 300 nm, 0.26 at 373 nm, 0.38 at 673 nm, and 0.30 at 950 nm. The linear spectral slope as measured between 240 and 320 nm in the ultraviolet displays a sharp minimum near a sub-Earth longitude of 20^{\circ}, and maximum in the eastern hemisphere. This is consistent with the longitudinal distribution of the spectral slope in the visible wavelength. The photometric uncertainty in the ultraviolet is ~20%, and in the visible wavelengths it is better than 10%. The amplitude of Vesta's rotational lightcurves is ~10% throughout the range of wavelengths we observed, but is smaller at 950 nm (~6%) near the 1-\mum band center. Contrary to earlier reports, we found no evidence for any difference between the phasing of the ultraviolet and visible/near-infrared lightcurves with respect to sub-Earth longitude. Vesta's average spectrum between 220 and 950 nm can well be described by measured reflectance spectra of fine particle howardite-like materials of basaltic achondrite meteorites. Combining this with the in-phase behavior of the ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared lightcurves, and the spectral slopes with respect to the rotational phase, we conclude that there is no global ultraviolet/visible reversal on Vesta. Consequently, this implies a lack of global space weathering on Vesta, as previously inferred from visible-near-infrared data.

astro-ph.EP↗