A new method for determining meteoroid mass from head echo data

摘要: [1] A head echo is the radar reflection from plasma immediately surrounding a meteoroid upon its entry into Earth's atmosphere; analysis of these plasmas can help determine parent meteoroid's inherent properties, such as mass. In past, mass was calculated using velocity and deceleration data by assuming momentum conservation between air molecule. We refer to masses “dynamical masses.” This method, however, only be used if either radius or density assumed. this paper, we expound new method for determining utilizing our spherical scattering theory. theory allows us use measurements calculate density. Then, in an established formula that estimates ratio unionized ionized material produced ablating meteoroid, “scattering show determination applies echoes detected simultaneously at VHF UHF verify same both frequencies. conclude with comparison dynamical general, methods agree within order magnitude.