A kinetic model of gas flow in a porous cometary mantle

• Published in: Planetary and space science 1995, Vol.43 (12), p.1587-1594
• Main Authors: Skorov, Yu.V., Rickman, H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0032-0633; 1873-5088
• DOI: 10.1016/0032-0633(95)00062-3

A numerical study of gas flow through a porous cometary mantle is presented. A kinetic model based on the well-known Test Particle Monte Carlo Method for the solution of rarefied gas dynamics problems is proposed. The physical model consists of two spatial plane regions: the condensed ice phase and a porous dust mantle. The structure of the porous dust layer is described as a bundle of cylindrical inclined channels not crossing each other. A vertical temperature gradient may exist across the dust mantle. The aim is to investigate how the characteristics of molecular flow depend on the capillary length, inclination angle, and temperature gradient. Examples illustrating a significant deviation of some results from equilibrium values are shown. In particular, the gas velocity distribution at both ends of the pore is strongly non-Maxwellian if there is an important temperature contrast across the pore. The emergent gas flow rate is found to vary with the pore length/radius ratio in excellent agreement with Clausing's empirical formula. The degree of collimation of the flow is quantitatively studied as a function of the length/radius ratio, and consequences for the jet force of outgassing through a dust mantle or, indeed, a rough surface are estimated.