Dynamics of Enceladus' Icy Plumes: Investigating the Physics of the Plumes using DSMC
D. Kamlesh Punjabi (TU Delft - Aerospace Engineering)
S.M. Cazaux – Mentor (TU Delft - Planetary Exploration)
F.F.J. Schrijer – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Aerodynamics)
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Abstract
The icy plumes that originate from the "tiger stripe" fractures on Enceladus provide a clear view of a potentially habitable ocean beneath the icy moon's icy crust. The Cassini spacecraft confirmed the presence of water and icy particles, establishing this ocean as a critical focus in the search for life. The biggest challenge is understanding how the plumes exit the vent and the effect of the tiny ice particles mixing with the gas in the vacuum of space. This thesis investigates the complex physics and dynamics of these plumes using the Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method, implemented within the OpenFOAM framework, to model the rarefied gas-particle flow. This work provides the fundamental physical context essential for precisely interpreting Cassini spacecraft data, pushing the boundaries of our knowledge about ocean worlds, and guiding future investigations in the search for extraterrestrial life.