Dottorato - PhD thesis
Area Tematica: RSN 3: Sole e Sistema Solare - RSN 5: Tecnologie avanzate e strumentazione
Referente: Stavro L. Ivanovski (
Titolo: Modeling Dust-Plasma Interactions Around Airless Small Bodies: Implications for Planetary Defense and Space Missions
Decorrenza: 18.05.2025
The PhD project aims to develop a coupled modeling framework that integrates dust dynamics and plasma physics to simulate the behavior of dust and plasma in the environments of airless small bodies such as asteroids and comets. The research has direct applications to planetary defense and supports the scientific goals of upcoming space missions, including ESA/JAXA’s HERA mission, ESA/JAXA’s RAMSES mission to Apophis, and ESA’s Comet Interceptor.
The project focuses on understanding how dust is ejected, dispersed, and fragmented under the combined influence of gravitational and plasma forces. Using the LIMARDE 3D+t model (Ivanovski et al. 2022, EPSC, Fahnestock et. al 2022), the project will simulate particle trajectories, velocities, and orientations based on physical properties such as shape, size, and mass. In parallel, a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) model (Biasiotti et al. 2024, Ivanovski et al 2011) will be used to analyze plasma flows and instabilities that influence dust motion, especially during solar wind events.
By coupling these two models, the project will explore how dust behaves in complex space environments, both near the surface of small bodies and in the surrounding space. Preliminary simulations show that non-spherical particles exhibit diverse motion patterns depending on their physical properties and the surrounding plasma conditions. This is essential for interpreting near-field observations, assessing ejecta behavior, and informing planetary defense strategies.
The final goal is to develop a predictive modeling suite that can be used for mission scientific planning and data analysis. This tool will enhance our understanding of dust-plasma interactions and help maximize the scientific return of future missions to airless small bodies.
The PhD student will be involved in the development and application of the coupled dust-plasma models. The activities will include:
1. Simulations of dust particle motion using the LIMARDE model, with a focus on non-spherical particle dynamics.
2. Simulations of plasma environments using the MHD model, including the effects of solar wind and plasma instabilities.
3. Coupling of the two models to study dust-plasma interactions in realistic mission scenarios.
4. Analysis of simulation results in the context of planetary defense and mission planning for HERA, RAMSES, and Comet Interceptor.
The PhD student will acquire valuable expertise in computational modeling, plasma physics, and planetary science. The research will be conducted in close collaboration with both national and international teams engaged in planetary defense initiatives and space mission development.
This research will be conducted within the "Planetary Systems and Origin of Life" group at INAF–Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste (OATs) (S. Ivanovski, L. Biasiotti, L. Calderone, F. Dogo, S. Monai, P. Simonetti and G. Vladilo) in collaboration with national partners, including Politecnico di Milano, Astronomical Observatory of Roma and international teams based in Germany and China.
