T-matrix and Hapke Modeling of the Thermal Infrared Spectra of Trojan Asteroids and (944) Hidalgo: Implications for Their Regolith Particle Size and Porosity

Abstract

Abstract Trojan asteroids (911) Agamemnon, (1172) Aneas, and (624) Hektor and primitive asteroid (944) Hidalgo share a common thermal infrared spectral feature: a prominent 10 μm plateau that is also present in cometary comae spectra. To fit these asteroid spectra, we modeled individual minerals using the light-scattering multiple sphere T-matrix (MSTM) and Hapke reflectance models. Modeled mineral spectra were then combined using a weighted least-squares (WLS) model that included a spectral library of varied particle sizes and porosities. We later refined our method by using the mineral abundances, particle sizes, and porosities computed by WLS as an input to rerun the MSTM and Hapke models. We were able to model the asteroid spectral features using a mixture of olivine components, fine particles, and lunar-like porosities. The Trojan asteroids and (944) Hidalgo are comparable in mineral composition and particle size to spectrally similar bodies such as comet Hale-Bopp and CO3 and CY chondrite meteorites. While the required porosities for modeling are like those present on the lunar surface, they are lower than those in the meteorites and higher than those in comets.