Stage 3
Majors:
Image Processing, Numerical and Computational Methods, Physical Science Research Planning, Relativity, Optics and Maxwell's Equation, Stars, Galaxies and the Universe, Thermal and Statistical Physics, The Sun, the Earth and Mars
Research Project:
"Determining the rotational period distribution of the icy cores of Jupiter-family comets in comparison to other small Solar system bodies."
The main object of this project was the accumulation and in depth evaluation of already published data concerning Jupiter-Family Comets, Centaurs, and Kuiper Belt Objects concentrating on the rotational period and their distribution in order to find statistical correlations. We undertook an extensive search of published data in regards to the rotational period and axial ratio, a/b, of these objects. For this we used the SAO/NASA Astrophysics Data system (ADS). Our findings are within the agreement of the proposed rubble pile model and underline the evolutional connection between the transneptunian objects, Centaurs and JFCs. Much work has still to be done, since the review of the data incorporates only a small fraction of objects in question. Many new efforts are under way or in the planning stage to increase the data available that will allow us to increase our understanding of the small solar system bodies.
Supervisor: Dr S. Lowry
