Dune Formation on Titan: Insight from Interparticle Forces and Mechanical Properties of Titan Organic Analogs

Extensive dunes on Titan have been observed by Cassini and are inferred to be made of mainly organics produced photochemically from the atmosphere. However, it has been a mystery how the organic sand particles are createdâ€"either by transforming the small aerosol particles in Titan’s atmosphere into larger sand sized particles or by breaking down organic deposits on the surface. By using novel techniques including colloidal atomic force microscopy and nanoindentation, I have measured interparticle forces and various material properties of the Titan complex organic analog, “tholin”, to help us better understand sand formation and transportation on Titan.

Speaker: Xinting Yu, John Hopkins Univ.