Formation processes of various ejecta morphology around of impact craters

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24740307
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Solid earth and planetary physics
• Research Institution: Japan Aerospace EXploration Agency (2013-2017); Kobe University (2012)
• Principal Investigator: SUZUKI Ayako 国立研究開発法人宇宙航空研究開発機構, 宇宙科学研究所, 招聘職員 (20547252)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 衝突実験 / 衝突銃 / クレーター

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Impact craters and their ejecta morphologies are interpreted as a natural probe for obtaining knowledge on ancient surface and subsurface environments, because detailed morphologies of impact craters and their ejecta are sensitive to impact conditions and degradation processes.
We have conducted impact experiments on a layer of glass beads and sintering snow in the laboratory to investigate the morphology of the impact craters and their ejecta affected by the ambient pressure and target strength. Two distinct ejecta patterns were observed on the glass beads layer of both 50 and 100 micron depending on the ambient pressure. Crater morphology on sintered snow, especially the spall size, systematically depended on the target strength.

Free Research Field

実験惑星科学