Abstract

In this dissertation work we sought to answer questions about the age, composition, and origin of planetary bodies. We implemented multiple approaches to answer these questions. To determine the age of the Clarissa asteroid family we implemented a modified version of SWIFT: a Solar System integration software package by Levison & Duncan (1994) to account for gravitational as well as thermal perturbations. This work constrained the age of the Clarissa asteroid family to be 56 ± 6 My. Next, we used a sum to one constraint weighted least squares (STO WLS) modeling approach to model thermal infrared (TIR) spectra of a suite of primitive asteroid analogs spectrally and volumetrically dominated by fine particulates ( < 38 µm). We determined that an alternative approach to the STO WLS model is needed to analyze asteroid regolith when it is dominated by fine particles ( < 90 µm). Our next approach included the Trojan asteroids (911) Agamemnon, (1172) Aneas, and (624) Hektor, and primitive asteroid (944) Hidalgo whose emissivity spectra share a prominent 10 µm plateau that is also present in cometary comae spectra. We used Multiple Sphere T-Matrix (MSTM) and Hapke reflectance models to model the asteroid spectral features using a mixture of olivine components (Mg-rich and Fe-rich olivine), fine particles (~0.5-1.0 µm), and lunar-like porosities (~74-87%). Finally, we used a light scattering Mie and Monte Carlo radiative transfer approach to model ambient (measured under Earth-like conditions) lunar regolith spectra. This study indicates that additional work needs to be done to develop an integrated thermal and light-scattering model that can replicate the effects of the thermal gradient present under lunar environment conditions because a light-scattering model alone is not able to reproduce the observed changes in the spectra that we see with space weathering.

Notes

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Graduation Date

2022

Semester

Summer

Advisor

Donaldson Hanna, Kerri

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

College

College of Sciences

Department

Physics

Degree Program

Physics; Planetary Sciences

Identifier

CFE0009217; DP0026820

URL

https://purls.library.ucf.edu/go/DP0026820

Language

English

Release Date

August 2022

Length of Campus-only Access

None

Access Status

Doctoral Dissertation (Open Access)

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