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Main Authors: Sanderson, Hannah R., Bryson, James F. J., Nichols, Claire I. O., Davies, Christopher J.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
Subjects:
Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2407.12721
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author Sanderson, Hannah R.
Bryson, James F. J.
Nichols, Claire I. O.
Davies, Christopher J.
author_facet Sanderson, Hannah R.
Bryson, James F. J.
Nichols, Claire I. O.
Davies, Christopher J.
contents The thermal and magnetic histories of planetesimals provide unique insights into the formation and evolution of Earth's building blocks. These histories can be gleaned from meteorites by using numerical models to translate measured properties into planetesimal behaviour. In this paper, we present a new 1D planetesimal thermal evolution and dynamo generation model. This magnetic field generation model is the first of a differentiated, mantled planetesimal that includes both mantle convection and non-eutectic core solidification. We have improved fundamental aspects of mantle heat transport by including a more detailed viscosity model and stagnant lid convection parametrisations consistent with internal heating. We have also added radiogenic heating from $^{60}Fe$ in the metallic Fe-FeS core. Additionally, we implement a combined thermal and compositional buoyancy flux, as well as the latest magnetic field scaling laws to predict magnetic field strengths during the planetesimal's thermal evolution until core solidification is complete. We illustrate the consequences of our model changes with an example run for a 500 km radius planetesimal. These effects include more rapid erosion of core thermal stratification and longer duration of mantle convection compared to previous studies. The additional buoyancy from core solidification has a marginal effect on dynamo strength, but for some initial core sulfur contents it can prevent cessation of the dynamo when mantle convection ends. Our model can be used to investigate the effects of individual parameters on dynamo generation and constrain properties of specific meteorite parent bodies. Combined, these updates mean this model can predict the most reliable and complete magnetic field history for a planetesimal to date, so is a valuable tool for deciphering planetesimal behaviour from meteorite properties.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2407_12721
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Unlocking planetesimal magnetic field histories: a refined, versatile model for thermal evolution and dynamo generation
Sanderson, Hannah R.
Bryson, James F. J.
Nichols, Claire I. O.
Davies, Christopher J.
Earth and Planetary Astrophysics
The thermal and magnetic histories of planetesimals provide unique insights into the formation and evolution of Earth's building blocks. These histories can be gleaned from meteorites by using numerical models to translate measured properties into planetesimal behaviour. In this paper, we present a new 1D planetesimal thermal evolution and dynamo generation model. This magnetic field generation model is the first of a differentiated, mantled planetesimal that includes both mantle convection and non-eutectic core solidification. We have improved fundamental aspects of mantle heat transport by including a more detailed viscosity model and stagnant lid convection parametrisations consistent with internal heating. We have also added radiogenic heating from $^{60}Fe$ in the metallic Fe-FeS core. Additionally, we implement a combined thermal and compositional buoyancy flux, as well as the latest magnetic field scaling laws to predict magnetic field strengths during the planetesimal's thermal evolution until core solidification is complete. We illustrate the consequences of our model changes with an example run for a 500 km radius planetesimal. These effects include more rapid erosion of core thermal stratification and longer duration of mantle convection compared to previous studies. The additional buoyancy from core solidification has a marginal effect on dynamo strength, but for some initial core sulfur contents it can prevent cessation of the dynamo when mantle convection ends. Our model can be used to investigate the effects of individual parameters on dynamo generation and constrain properties of specific meteorite parent bodies. Combined, these updates mean this model can predict the most reliable and complete magnetic field history for a planetesimal to date, so is a valuable tool for deciphering planetesimal behaviour from meteorite properties.
title Unlocking planetesimal magnetic field histories: a refined, versatile model for thermal evolution and dynamo generation
topic Earth and Planetary Astrophysics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2407.12721