Disk-integrated brightness of a Lommel-Seeliger scattering ellipsoidal asteroid

¹ Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, Gustaf Hällströmin katu 2a, PO Box 64, 00014 U. Helsinki, Finland
e-mail: Karri.Muinonen@helsinki.fi
² Finnish Geospatial Research Institute FGI, Geodeetinrinne 2, 02430 Masala, Finland

Received: 3 May 2015
Accepted: 8 September 2015

Abstract

Context. The scattering of light by an asteroid’s surface depends on the properties of its particles, volume density, and roughness. It is described by the reflection coefficient which, upon integration over the illuminated and observed part of the surface, yields the disk-integrated photometric brightness of the asteroid. The Lommel-Seeliger reflection coefficient is applicable to dark, low-albedo C-class asteroids, with prospects for moderate-albedo S-class and M-class asteroids.

Aims. We calculate the disk-integrated brightness for an ellipsoidal asteroid with a Lommel-Seeliger reflection coefficient (LS ellipsoid). Furthermore, we calculate the photocenter for the LS ellipsoid, that is, the distance of the center of light from the barycenter.

Methods. Because of their analytical nature, the closed-form expressions can be readily utilized in numerical simulations.

Results. We show lightcurves and photocenter variations for realistic examples of ellipsoidal shapes for a number of pole orientations. The results highlight the reciprocity principle of the radiative-transfer theory and suggest a nontrivial dependence of the photocenter on the pole orientation and viewing geometry.

Conclusions. Finally, we outline a number of applications and future prospects.