Physical interpretation of the Poynting-Robertson effect

Although the prevalent mathematical description of the Poynting-Robertson e ffect is correct, its physical interpretation is sometimes problematic. By means of a two-parameter model, we revisit the effect in order to get a bet ter physical understanding of it. The principal conclusion is that the moti on of a dust in circumsolar orbit is governed only by solar radiation absor ption and not by the asymmetry of reemission, even when viewed in the rest- frame of the Sun. (C) 1999 Academic Press.