Study of hydrated asteroids via their polarimetric properties at low phase angles

TL;DR

This study investigates the polarimetric properties of dark asteroids, especially Ch-type, revealing correlations between negative polarization branches and hydrated mineral features, suggesting surface microstructures influence their unique polarization signatures.

Contribution

It provides the first extensive polarimetric database for dark asteroids, linking polarimetric features with mineralogy and surface microstructures, advancing understanding of asteroid surface compositions.

Findings

Deep negative polarization branches correlate with hydrated mineral features.

Photometric opposition effect amplitude relates to polarimetric and spectral properties.

No significant correlation between polarimetric properties and asteroid albedo or size.

Abstract

Context. Ch-type asteroids are distinctive among other dark asteroids in that they exhibit deep negative polarization branches (NPBs). Nevertheless, the physical and compositional properties that cause their polarimetric distinctiveness are less investigated. Aims. We aim to investigate the polarimetric uniqueness of Ch-type asteroids by making databases of various observational quantities (i.e., spectroscopic and photometric properties as well as polarimetric ones) of dark asteroids.Methods. We conducted an intensive polarimetric survey of 52 dark asteroids (including 31 Ch-type asteroids) in the R$_\mathrm{C}$-band to increase the size of polarimetric samples. The observed data are compiled with previous polarimetric, spectroscopic, and photometric archival data to find their correlations. Results. We find remarkable correlations between these observed quantities, particularly the depth of NPBs and their spectroscopic features associated with the hydrated minerals. The amplitude of the opposition effect in photometric properties also shows correlations with polarimetric and spectral properties. However, these observed quantities do not show noticeable correlations with the geometric albedo, thermal inertia, and diameter of asteroids. Conclusions. Based on the observational evidence, we arrive at our conclusion that the submicrometer-sized structures (fibrous or flaky puff pastry-like structures in phyllosilicates) in the regolith particles could contribute to the distinctive NPBs of hydrated asteroids.