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Fractal Aggregates in Space

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Optics of Cosmic Dust

Part of the book series: NATO Science Series ((NAII,volume 79))

Abstract

Individual cosmic dust particles come in very complex shapes but there are a variety of environments where dust particles are aggregates of smaller grains. These aggregates often can be characterized by a fractal particle structure. Within this fractal framework, morphologically averaged particle properties depend only on a few parameters. Despite the complexity of the individual particles, fractal dimension, aggregate size, and building-block size are sufficient parameters for many applications. This paper reviews the process of aggregation to generate fractal aggregates with focus on some general features of those aggregates (mass to surface ratios, aspect ratios). Some implications for aerodynamical and optical properties (gas- grain coupling times, polarization, extinction) are discussed.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Planetologie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, Wilhelm-Klemm-Straße 10, 48149, Münster, Germany

    Gerhard Wurm

  2. Institut für Meteorologie und Klimaforschung, Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe, Postfach 3640, 76021, Karlsruhe, Germany

    Martin Schnaiter

Authors
  1. Gerhard Wurm
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  2. Martin Schnaiter
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Army Research Laboratory, Adelphi, Maryland, USA

    Gorden Videen

  2. Astronomical Institute, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovak Republic

    Miroslav Kocifaj

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© 2002 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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Wurm, G., Schnaiter, M. (2002). Fractal Aggregates in Space. In: Videen, G., Kocifaj, M. (eds) Optics of Cosmic Dust. NATO Science Series, vol 79. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-0628-6_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-0628-6_5

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4020-0820-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-010-0628-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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