Müller, Daniel Robert (2024). In Situ Comet Research – From Rosetta To Comet Interceptor. (Thesis). Universität Bern, Bern
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Abstract
Comets, as remnants from the early Solar System, offer valuable insights into its formation and evolution, making them compelling targets for space missions. This thesis examines two recent European Space Agency missions to comets: the Rosetta mission, which extensively studied the short-period comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, and the forthcoming Comet Interceptor mission, set to be launched in 2029 and expected to encounter a long-period comet or interstellar object entering the inner Solar System for the first time. The Rosetta mission, equipped with the ROSINA instrument suite, significantly advanced our understanding of comets. Two publications resulting from ROSINA data analysis are included in this work. The first study, focusing on isotope analysis of water and alkanes, sheds light on the origin and evolution of comets and our Solar System. Notably, it reveals that the deuterium-to-hydrogen (D/H) ratio remained consistent during the comet’s perihelion passage, while also determining the D/H and 13C/12C ratios of alkanes. The second study investigates outburst trigger mechanisms, distinguishing between different gas composition behaviours observed during outbursts, and providing insights into the comet’s nucleus evolution processes. In parallel, this thesis documents the development and testing of the Mass Analyser for Neutrals in a Coma (MANiaC), a crucial component of the Comet Interceptor instrument suite. Consisting of a neutral density gauge and a time-of-flight mass spectrometer, prototypes of both instruments have been meticulously calibrated and tested to meet mission requirements. Stability measurements and potential improvements for these instruments are presented. The results demonstrate that even in the prototyping phase, the MANiaC instruments already satisfy almost all requirements regarding resolution and stability and that the path to success for MANiaC is laid out. This thesis underscores the significance of studying comets and highlights the pivotal role of advanced mass spectrometry in unravelling the mysteries of these celestial bodies. Combining data analysis from previous missions and the development of cutting-edge instrumentation for future missions, this work pushes the boundaries of our knowledge about comets and the broader understanding of the Solar System’s formation and evolution.
| Item Type: | Thesis |
|---|---|
| Dissertation Type: | Cumulative |
| Date of Defense: | 9 August 2024 |
| Subjects: | 500 Science > 520 Astronomy 500 Science > 530 Physics 600 Technology > 620 Engineering |
| Institute / Center: | 08 Faculty of Science > Physics Institute > Space Research and Planetary Sciences |
| Depositing User: | Sarah Stalder |
| Date Deposited: | 07 Mar 2025 10:44 |
| Last Modified: | 07 Mar 2025 10:44 |
| URI: | https://boristheses.unibe.ch/id/eprint/5868 |
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