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arXiv · 2305.12436

Constraints on the gamma-ray emission from Small Solar System Bodies with the Fermi Large Area Telescope data

S. De Gaetano·L. Di Venere·F. Gargano·F. Loparco·L. Lorusso·M. N. Mazziotta·G. Panzarini·R. Pillera·D. Serini
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Abstract

All known Small Solar System Bodies have diameters between a few meters and a few thousands of kilometers. Based on the collisional evolution of Solar System Bodies, a larger number of asteroids with diameters down to $\sim 2$ m is thought to exist. As all Solar System Bodies, Small Bodies can be passive sources of high-energy gamma rays, produced by the interaction of energetic cosmic rays impinging on their surfaces. Since the majority of known asteroids are in orbits between Mars and Jupiter (in a region known as the Main Belt), we expect them to produce a diffuse emission close to the ecliptic plane. In this work we have studied the gamma-ray emission coming from the ecliptic using the data collected by the Large Area Telescope onboard the Fermi satellite. We have fit the results with simulations of the gamma-ray intensity at source level (calculated with the software FLUKA) to constrain the Small Solar System Bodies population. Finally, we have proposed a model describing the distribution of asteroid sizes and we have used the LAT data to constrain the gamma-ray emission expected from this model and, in turn, on the model itself.

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S. De Gaetano, L. Di Venere, F. Gargano, F. Loparco, L. Lorusso, M. N. Mazziotta, G. Panzarini, R. Pillera, D. Serini. 2023-05-21. Constraints on the gamma-ray emission from Small Solar System Bodies with the Fermi Large Area Telescope data. https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357%2Facd5ce

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