A Quantitative Model for the Ablation of Dustball Meteors

Abstract

A quantitative model for the ablation of dustball meteors is presented. The model assumes meteoric bodies are composed of grains (approximately 10–6 g mass) held together by a lower boiling point ‘ glue ’. Once the boiling point of the ‘ glue ’ is reached grains are detached. Light is assumed to be produced only by detached grains. For meteors fainter than about |${+5}^\text{M}$|⁠, the grains are detached above the radiation ceiling, and the heights of such meteors are mass independent. For brighter meteors, grain detachment and ablation occur simultaneously and the model predicts approximately classical light curves.