Dynamics of levitating dust particles near asteroids and the Moon

Using a numerically modeled nonmonotonic potential profile plasma sheath, we identify the equilibrium height and charge of levitating dust particles for nanometer to 10 mu m sized particles over a five order of magnitude variation in the gravity of an airless central body. The stability and time scales of the dust particle motion about the equilibria are computed. The range of initial velocities that results in levitation of a dust particle is dominated by the particle size and is relatively insensitive to the mass of the central body and the particle's charge. By studying the dynamics of levitating dust particles, we are able to move beyond the point solutions that have been previously considered. This work enables more complete evaluations of the importance of dust levitation in the evolution of airless bodies and the hazard that levitating dust particles pose to exploration vehicles. Citation: Hartzell, C. M., and D. J. Scheeres (2013), Dynamics of levitating dust particles near asteroids and the Moon, J. Geophys. Res. Planets, 118, 116-125, doi:10.1029/2012JE004162.