Quantitative grain size estimation on airless bodies from the negative polarization branch. I. Insights from experiments and lunar observations

Abstract

This work explores characteristics of the negative polarization branch (NPB), which occurs in scattered light from rough surfaces, with particular focus on the effects of fine particles. Factors such as albedo, compression, roughness, and the refractive index are considered to determine their influence on the NPB. This study compiles experimental data and lunar observations to derive insights from a wide array of literature. Employing our proposed methodology, we estimate the representative grain sizes on the lunar surface to be $D\sim 1-2\mu \mathrm{m}$, with $D\lesssim 2-4\mu \mathrm{m}$, consistent with observed grain size frequency distributions in laboratory settings for lunar fines. Considering Mars, we propose that the finest particles are likely lacking ($D\gg 10\mu \mathrm{m}$), which matches previous estimations. This study highlights the potential of multiwavelength, particularly near-infrared, polarimetry for precisely gauging small particles on airless celestial bodies. The conclusions provided here extend to cross-validation with grain sizes derived from thermal modeling, asteroid taxonomic classification, and regolith evolution studies.

21 pages, 14 figures, Accepted for publication in A&A

References in corpus (9)

• Successful Kinetic Impact into an Asteroid for Planetary Defense
• Thermophysical modeling of asteroids from WISE thermal infrared data - Significance of the shape model and the pole orientation uncertainties
• Retrieving Dust Grain Sizes from Photopolarimetry: An Experimental Approach
• Low-phase spectral reflectance and equivalent geometric albedo of meteorites powders
• Polarimetric Study of Near-Earth Asteroid (1566) Icarus
• Reflection, emission, and polarization properties of surfaces made of hyperfine grains, and implications for the nature of primitive small bodies
• (3200) Phaethon Polarimetry in the Negative Branch: New Evidence for the Anhydrous Nature of the DESTINY+ Target Asteroid
• Negative polarization properties of regolith simulants -- Systematic experimental evaluation of composition effects
• Quantitative grain size estimation on airless bodies from the negative polarization branch. I. Insights from experiments and lunar observations

Cited by in corpus (2)

• Quantitative grain size estimation on airless bodies from the negative polarization branch. II. Dawn mission targets (4) Vesta and (1) Ceres
• Quantitative grain size estimation on airless bodies from the negative polarization branch. I. Insights from experiments and lunar observations