Dynamic (computer) modelling of the particulate environment: Transformations from the LDEF reference frame to decode geocentric and interplanetary populations

Abstract

The Long Duration Exposure Facility's impact signature record and the size frequency distribution of craters and perforations offers a unique record of environmental data referenced conveniently to the geocentric reference frame. Chemical analysis of residues can offer only limited assistance. Hence, flux modelling has been developed to transform from both geocentric orbital distributions and geocentrically unbounded interplanetary source distributions. This is applied to the foil and crater penetration records in the Ram (E), Trailing (W), and Space Pointing directions to offer the means of decoding the records. It shows that the mix of the components is size dependent. Parametric forms of the modelling transformations are presented for the orbital and unbound populations.