Constraints on the Nucleus and Dust Properties from Mid-Infrared Imaging of Comet Hyakutake

摘要

We use Mie scattering theory to determine the expected thermal emission from dust grains in cometary comae and apply these results to mid-infrared images of comet Hyakutake (C/ 1996 B2) obtained preperihelion in 1996 March. Calculations were performed for dust grains in the size range from 0.1 to 10 μm for two different compositions: amorphous olivine (a silicate glass) and an organic residue mixture. The resulting emission efficiencies are complicated functions of wavelength and particle size and are significantly different for the two materials in question.