木星不规则卫星尘埃的动力学演化机理研究

我国计划在本世纪三十年代对木星系进行探测。木星系的尘埃携带了母体卫星的形成和动力学信息，其研究具有重要的科学意义，在工程上也可以帮助评估探测器的尘埃撞击威胁。本课题将着重研究起源于木星不规则卫星的尘埃动力学演化机理。2018年，研究人员宣布了关于木星不规则卫星的新发现，给起源于木星不规则卫星的尘埃动力学研究提供了新的机遇。本课题将基于最新的木星引力场、磁场和等离子体环境数据，运用非线性动力学理论，考虑引力摄动、太阳光压、电磁力、等离子体拖曳力等全部重要的摄动力，建立起源于木星不规则卫星的尘埃大规模数值仿真模型，系统地研究尘埃在不规则卫星区域的动力学行为规律，探索尘埃传送至Galilean卫星区域和木星环区域的迁移机制，分析不规则卫星尘埃在Galilean卫星表面的分布特征，希望可以服务于我国未来木星系探测活动的科学任务规划，并为评估航天器的尘埃撞击威胁提供理论依据。

China plans to explore the Jupiter system in 2030s. Dust particles in the Jupiter system contain the information of the formation and dynamics of the source moons, on which the research is of important scientific significance. For engineering application, the research on dust can also help to assess the dust impact hazard on spacecraft. This proposed project will focus on the mechanism of the dynamical evolution of the dust particles originating from Jupiter’s irregular moons. In 2018, researchers announced the discovery of Jupiter’s new irregular moons, which provides new opportunity for the research on the dynamics of dust particles from Jupiter’s irregular moons. Based on the up-to-date data of Jupiter’s gravity field, magnetic field and plasma environment, this proposed project will apply the theory of nonlinear dynamics to develop a dynamical model for extensive numerical simulations of dust originating from Jupiter’s irregular moons, including all the important perturbations forces such as gravitational perturbations, solar radiation pressure, electromagnetic forces, plasma drag, etc. The pattern of dynamical behavior for dust particles in the region of the irregular moons will be systematically investigated. The migration mechanism of the dust particles transported to the regions of Galilean moons and Jupiter’s rings will be explored. The distribution features on the surfaces of Galilean moons for dust particles from the irregular moons will be analyzed. It is expected that the proposed research can serve the scientific programme of Chinese future space mission to the Jupiter system, and provide theoretical basis for the assessment of the dust impact hazard on spacecraft.