A study on the distribution of dust particles trapped in horseshoe orbit

Abstract

Dust particles which are observed as zodiacal light exist around the Earth's orbit and can create a characteristic distribution by the Earth's gravity. This paper investigates the distribution by numerical simulation on the assumption that dust particles trapped in horseshoe orbits contribute the distribution, because the orbit has the following characteristics. The velocity of a trapped dust varies by its location on the horseshoe orbit and the dust will transit with time to wider horseshoe orbit. And this paper also considers the possibility that these particles are trapped or not and reveals that the possibility depends on the dust diameter. Show more