Dynamics of charged dust in the orbit of Venus

Abstract

We study the dynamics of co-orbital dust in the inner Solar System, that is, the role of the solar radiation pressure, the Poynting-Robertson effect, the solar wind, and the interplanetary magnetic field, on the location, width, and stability of resonant motion of charged and micron-sized dust grains situated in the 1:1 mean motion resonance with Venus. We find deviations and asymmetry between L4 and L5 in the locations of the libration centers and libration width caused by nongravitational effects with analytical and numerical methods. The triangular Lagrangian points become unstable when solar radiation pressure, the Poynting-Robertson effect, and solar wind drag are considered. The Lorentz force could further destabilize the orbits, especially for small dust particles. We also compare the circular and/or elliptic restricted three-body model and a more complete model that includes all planets.