小行星热模型研究现状

The Review of Thermal Models for Asteroids

从基本物理出发,详细地介绍在小行星热环境研究中常用的几个热模型,并结合观测论述其具体科学应用。一般来说,小行星热模型可以分为两大类:简化模型和热物理模型。简化模型主要用来估计小行星的反照率和直径;热物理模型则是用详细的形状模型,结合经典的热物理学规律来尽可能真实地模拟小行星表层的复杂热环境,可以较真实地模拟出小行星表层各局部区域的热环境状态,从而为研究小行星的热演化历史及与其相关的Yarkovsky和YORP效应等提供理论依据。

In this paper, several typical thermal models for asteroids, which are widely applied in the asteroid science in recent years, are extensively reviewed. The fundamental physics and application of these models are extensively discussed. In general, the thermal models of asteroids can be divided into two categories： the Simplified Model and Thermal-Physical Model, the former is always used to estimate the asteroid＇s albedo and diameter, while the latter adopts detailed shape model and classic thermal laws of physics as realistically as possible to simulate complex thermal environment of the asteroid surface. Through the numerical process of thermal model, the temperature distribution of the asteroid surface can be obtained and its thermal infrared radiation can be calculated, which can be used to fit the mid-IR observations of the asteroid so as to determine its effective diameter, albedo, and thermal inertia. Furthermore, an appropriate simulation of an asteroid＇s surface thermal environment from a thermal model does great benefits to study the thermal history of the asteroid and other related procedures such as Yarkovsky and YORP effects.