COLLISION OF A COMET WITH JUPITER - LIGHT-CURVE FINE-STRUCTURE

The results of Earth-based infrared observations of Jupiter during the collision with comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 fragments are analyzed. The imp act of a typical comet fragment produces three peaks in the light curv e. The first two flashes ru e short-lived and weak while the third fla sh is very bright and long-lived (similar or equal to 20 min). It is s hown that the widely accepted explanation of the main peak as thermal radiation from the atmosphere heated by the gas ejected upwards by the explosion of the fragment and falling back down is unsatisfactory, A model is proposed for the physical processes which produce the radiati on during the collision with the comet. The shape of the light curve a nd the origin of the three flashes are explained on the basis of this model. (C) 1995 American Institute of Physics