An attempt to evaluate the structure of cometary dust particles

Abstract

A comparison of the counting rates of two sensors of the SP-1 plasma impact detector, one open and one shielded by a thin foil is used to roughly estimate the mean density of dust particles. Some inconsistencies between the current understanding of the penetration of film by particles and the observed behaviour are found. A mass density of ⪷1 g cm−3 does not contradict to measurements in the low mass range (⪷ 10−14 g). A lower density value is suggested for heavier particles (m ⪸ 10−12 g), implying a fluffy structure of these particles.