What mechanisms dominate the activity of Geminid Parent (3200) Phaethon?

• DOI: 10.1093/mnras/sty3023
• Publication Date: 2018-11-07T20:10:36Z
• Authors: Liang Liang Yu; Wing Huen Ip; Tilman Spohn
• Keywords: Sublimation; Mean motion; Production rate

A long-term sublimation model to explain how Phaethon could provide the Geminid stream is proposed. We find that it would take ∼6 Myr or more for lose all of its internal ice (if ever there was) in present orbit. Thus, if asteroid moved from region a 5:2 8:3 mean motion resonance with Jupiter orbit less than 1 ago, may have retained much primordial ice. The dust mantle on sublimating body should thickness at least 15 m but been thick 1000 yr ago. total gas production rate as large |$10^{27}\rm \,s^{-1}$| then, and flow capable lifting particles up few centimetres size. Therefore, during past millennium sufficient blow away enough entire stream. For present-day Phaethon, comparatively weak. But strong transient release |${\sim }4.5\times 10^{19}\rm \,m^{-2}\,s^{-1}$| expected south polar when moves 0° 2° anomaly near perihelion. Consequently, radii <∼260 μm can be blown form tail. In addition, we surface temperature variation >600 K perihelion generate sufficiently thermal stress cause fracture rocks boulders an efficient mechanism produce surface. time-scale this process several times longer seasonal cycle, thereby dominating cycle appearance