Astronomical Institute
Topic
The anomalous spectral dependence of polarization in selected comets
PhD. program
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Year of admission
2025
Name of the supervisor
Mgr. Oleksandra Ivanova, PhD.
Contact:
Receiving school
Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics
Annotation
Language of Thesis: English
Secondary language: Slovak
Affiliation: Astronomical Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Tatranská Lomnica, 059 60 Vysoké Tatry, Slovakia
Focus of the Research: Comets are relic formations that are closest in composition to the primordial protoplanetary cloud. They contain both solar nebula particles and pre-solar (interstellar) particles, offering an opportunity to study the chemical and physical processes of the early Solar System. Radial temperature and compositional gradients of the protosolar nebula, as well as the degree of material mixing during comet formation, are reflected in the properties of cometary dust. Comets may have played a significant role in transporting water and organic molecules to the inner planets, including Earth, making their study essential not only for understanding of their evolution, but also of the formation of Earth and emergence of life on it.
Objectives: The research focuses on the search and study of comets with anomalous spectral polarization dependence, potentially linked to the chemical composition, structure, and other properties of dust, particularly an increased content of organic materials. The primary objective is to determine the physical characteristics of such comets to establish a connection between their properties, formation regions in the Solar System, and evolutionary processes. The study will compare the properties of comets with normal and anomalous spectral polarization dependence, enabling a deeper understanding of how composition, porosity, and structure of dust particles influence observed polarimetric effects. Photometric and polarimetric methods will be jointly applied to determine all key physical characteristics of the dust component in the coma of selected comets. Analysis of phase functions of brightness and polarization, along with their wavelength-dependent parameters, will provide insights into the composition, sizes, structures, and shapes of dust particles. Comparing observational data with theoretical modelling and laboratory experiments will allow for the identification of the most probable physical properties of cometary dust.
Requirements: Programming skills in a commonly used language (IDL or Python) and basic knowledge of LaTeX environment, good knowledge of the English language, experience in observations and the ability to reduce the observed material and obtain the values needed for further analysis are welcome.
Research field: Dust properties in active small bodies of the Solar System
Literature:
[1] Bagnulo, S., Belskaya, I., Cellino, A., Kwon, Y. G., Muñoz, O., & Stam, D. M. (2024). Polarimetry of Solar System minor bodies and planets. The Astronomy and Astrophysics Review, 32(1), 1-103.
[2] Ivanova, O., Rosenbush, V., Afanasiev, V., & Kiselev, N. (2017). Polarimetry, photometry, and spectroscopy of comet C/2009 P1 (Garradd). Icarus, 284, 167-182.
[3] Kolokolova, L. (2015). Polarimetry of stars and planetary systems.
[4] Kiselev N., Rosenbush V. 2004. Polarimetry of comets: Progress and problems. In: Photopolarimetry in Remote Sensing, Eds. G. Videen, Y. Yatskiv, M. Mishchenko. – Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 411–430.
[5] Kiselev N., Jockers K., Rosenbush V. 2002. Comparative study of the dust polarimetric properties in split and normal comets. Earth, Moon, Planets 90, 167-176..
[6] Kiselev N. N., Jockers K., Rosenbush V. K. et al. 2000. Anomalous wavelength dependence of polarization of comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner. Planet. Space Sci. 48, 1005-1009.
For further information please see https://www.astro.sk/en/study/phd-study/
Secondary language: Slovak
Affiliation: Astronomical Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Tatranská Lomnica, 059 60 Vysoké Tatry, Slovakia
Focus of the Research: Comets are relic formations that are closest in composition to the primordial protoplanetary cloud. They contain both solar nebula particles and pre-solar (interstellar) particles, offering an opportunity to study the chemical and physical processes of the early Solar System. Radial temperature and compositional gradients of the protosolar nebula, as well as the degree of material mixing during comet formation, are reflected in the properties of cometary dust. Comets may have played a significant role in transporting water and organic molecules to the inner planets, including Earth, making their study essential not only for understanding of their evolution, but also of the formation of Earth and emergence of life on it.
Objectives: The research focuses on the search and study of comets with anomalous spectral polarization dependence, potentially linked to the chemical composition, structure, and other properties of dust, particularly an increased content of organic materials. The primary objective is to determine the physical characteristics of such comets to establish a connection between their properties, formation regions in the Solar System, and evolutionary processes. The study will compare the properties of comets with normal and anomalous spectral polarization dependence, enabling a deeper understanding of how composition, porosity, and structure of dust particles influence observed polarimetric effects. Photometric and polarimetric methods will be jointly applied to determine all key physical characteristics of the dust component in the coma of selected comets. Analysis of phase functions of brightness and polarization, along with their wavelength-dependent parameters, will provide insights into the composition, sizes, structures, and shapes of dust particles. Comparing observational data with theoretical modelling and laboratory experiments will allow for the identification of the most probable physical properties of cometary dust.
Requirements: Programming skills in a commonly used language (IDL or Python) and basic knowledge of LaTeX environment, good knowledge of the English language, experience in observations and the ability to reduce the observed material and obtain the values needed for further analysis are welcome.
Research field: Dust properties in active small bodies of the Solar System
Literature:
[1] Bagnulo, S., Belskaya, I., Cellino, A., Kwon, Y. G., Muñoz, O., & Stam, D. M. (2024). Polarimetry of Solar System minor bodies and planets. The Astronomy and Astrophysics Review, 32(1), 1-103.
[2] Ivanova, O., Rosenbush, V., Afanasiev, V., & Kiselev, N. (2017). Polarimetry, photometry, and spectroscopy of comet C/2009 P1 (Garradd). Icarus, 284, 167-182.
[3] Kolokolova, L. (2015). Polarimetry of stars and planetary systems.
[4] Kiselev N., Rosenbush V. 2004. Polarimetry of comets: Progress and problems. In: Photopolarimetry in Remote Sensing, Eds. G. Videen, Y. Yatskiv, M. Mishchenko. – Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 411–430.
[5] Kiselev N., Jockers K., Rosenbush V. 2002. Comparative study of the dust polarimetric properties in split and normal comets. Earth, Moon, Planets 90, 167-176..
[6] Kiselev N. N., Jockers K., Rosenbush V. K. et al. 2000. Anomalous wavelength dependence of polarization of comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner. Planet. Space Sci. 48, 1005-1009.
For further information please see https://www.astro.sk/en/study/phd-study/