1. Re-Analysis of the Solar Phase Curves of the Icy Galilean Satellites
- Author
-
Deborah Domingue and Anne Verbiscer
- Subjects
Physics ,Forward scatter ,Scattering ,Isotropy ,Phase (waves) ,Astronomy ,Astronomy and Astrophysics ,Regolith ,Physics::Geophysics ,Computational physics ,Galilean moons ,symbols.namesake ,Space and Planetary Science ,Physics::Space Physics ,symbols ,Surface roughness ,Astrophysics::Earth and Planetary Astrophysics ,Anisotropy - Abstract
Re-analysis of the solar phase curves of the icy Galilean satellites demonstrates that the quantitative results are dependent on the single particle scattering function incorporated into the photometric model; however, the qualitative properties are independent. The results presented here show that the general physical characteristics predicted by a Hapke model (B. Hapke, 1986, Icarus 67, 264–280) incorporating a two parameter double Henyey–Greenstein scattering function are similar to the predictions given by the same model incorporating a three parameter double Henyey–Greenstein scattering function as long as the data set being modeled has adequate coverage in phase angle. Conflicting results occur when the large phase angle coverage is inadequate. Analysis of the role of isotropic versus anisotropic multiple scattering shows that for surfaces as bright as Europa the two models predict very similar results over phase angles covered by the data. Differences arise only at those phase angles for which there are no data. The single particle scattering behavior between the leading and trailing hemispheres of Europa and Ganymede is commensurate with magnetospheric alterations of their surfaces. Ion bombardment will produce more forward scattering single scattering functions due to annealing of potential scattering centers within regolith particles (N. J. Sack et al., 1992, Icarus 100, 534–540). Both leading and trailing hemispheres of Europa are consistent with a high porosity model and commensurate with a frost surface. There are no strong differences in predicted porosity between the two hemispheres of Callisto, both are consistent with model porosities midway between that deduced for Europa and the Moon. Surface roughness model estimates predict that surface roughness increases with satellite distance from Jupiter, with lunar surface roughness values falling midway between those measured for Ganymede and Callisto. There is no obvious variation in predicted surface roughness with hemisphere for any of the Galilean satellites.
- Published
- 1997