Context. Here we describe a new model of the dust streams of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko that has been developed using the Interplanetary Meteoroid Environment for Exploration (IMEX). This is a new universal model for recently created cometary meteoroid streams in the inner solar system. Aims. The model can be used to investigate characteristics of cometary trails: here we describe the model and apply it to the trail of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko to develop our understanding of the trail and assess the reliability of the model. Methods. Our IMEX model provides trajectories for a large number of dust particles released from ∼400 short-period comets. We use this to generate optical depth profiles of the dust trail of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko and compare these to Spitzer observations of the trail of this comet from 2004 and 2006. Results. We find that our model can match the observed trails if we use very low ejection velocities, a differential size distribution index of α ≈ −3.7, and a dust production rate of 300-500 kg s −1 at perihelion. The trail is dominated by mm-sized particles and can contain a large proportion of dust produced before the most recent apparition. We demonstrate the strength of IMEX in providing time-resolved histories of meteoroid streams. We find that the passage of Mars through the stream in 2062 creates visible gaps. This indicates the utility of this model in providing insight into the dynamical evolution of streams and trails, as well as impact hazard assessment for spacecraft on interplanetary missions.

On 2016 Feb 19, nine Rosetta instruments serendipitously observed an outburst of gas and dust from the nucleus of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Among these instruments were cameras and spectrometers ranging from UV over visible to microwave wavelengths, in situ gas, dust and plasma instruments, and one dust collector. At 09:40 a dust cloud developed at the edge of an image in the shadowed region of the nucleus. Over the next two hours the instruments recorded a signature of the outburst that significantly exceeded the background. The enhancement ranged from 50 per cent of the neutral gas density at Rosetta to factors >100 of the brightness of the coma near the nucleus. Dust related phenomena (dust counts or brightness due to illuminated dust) showed the strongest enhancements (factors >10). However, even the electron density at Rosetta increased by a factor 3 and consequently the spacecraft potential changed from ∼−16 V to −20 V during the outburst. A clear sequence

Interplanetary dust particles and meteoroids mostly originate from comets and asteroids. Understanding their distribution in the Solar system, their dynamical behavior and their properties, sheds light on the current state and the dynamical behavior of the Solar system. Dust particles can endanger Earth-orbiting satellites and deep-space probes, and a good understanding of the spatial density and velocity distribution of dust and meteoroids in the Solar system is important for designing proper spacecraft shielding. The study of inter-Cosmic Dust from the Laboratory to the Stars Edited by

Aims. Based on measurements by the Ulysses spacecraft and high-resolution modelling of the motion of interstellar dust (ISD) through the heliosphere we predict the ISD flow in the inner planetary system and on to the Earth. This is the third paper in a series of three about the flow and filtering of the ISD. Methods. Micrometer-and sub-micrometer-sized dust particles are subject to solar gravity and radiation pressure as well as to interactions with the interplanetary magnetic field that result in a complex size-dependent flow pattern of ISD in the planetary system. With high-resolution dynamical modelling we study the time-resolved flux and mass distribution of ISD and assess the necessary requirements for detection of ISD near the Earth. Results. Along the Earth orbit the density, speed, and flow direction of ISD depend strongly on the Earth's position and the size of the interstellar grains. A broad maximum of the ISD flux (∼ 2 × 10 −4 m −2 s −1 of particles with radii 0.3 µm) occurs in March when the Earth moves against the ISD flow. During this time period the relative speed with respect to the Earth is highest (∼ 60 km s −1 ), whereas in September when the Earth moves with the ISD flow, both the flux and the speed are lowest ( 10 km s −1 ). The mean ISD mass flow on to the Earth is approximately 100 kg year −1 with the highest flux of ∼ 3.5 kg day −1 occurring for about 2 weeks close to the end of the year when the Earth passes near the narrow gravitational focus region of the incoming ISD flow, downstream from the Sun. The phase of the 22-year solar wind cycle has a strong effect on the number density and flow of sub-micrometer-sized ISD particles. During the years of maximum electromagnetic focussing (year 2031 +/-3) there is a chance that ISD particles with sizes even below 0.1 µm can reach the Earth. Conclusions. We demonstrate that ISD can be effectively detected, analysed, and even collected by space probes at 1 AU distance from the Sun.

We propose a large-area, cost-effective Muon Telescope Detector (MTD) at mid-rapidity for the Solenoidal Tracker at RHIC (STAR) and for the next generation of detectors at a possible electron-ion collider. We utilize large Multi-gap Resistive Plate Chambers with long readout strips (long-MRPC) in the detector design. The results from cosmic ray and beam tests show the intrinsic timing and spatial resolution for a long-MRPC are 60 − 70 ps and ∼ 1 cm, respectively. The performance of the prototype muon telescope detector at STAR indicates that muon identification at a transverse momentum of a few GeV/c can be achieved by combining information from track matching with the MTD, ionization energy loss in the Time Projection Chamber, and time-of-flight measurements. A primary muon over secondary muon ratio of better than 1/3 can be achieved. This provides a promising device for future quarkonium programs and primordial dilepton measurements at RHIC. Simulations of the muon efficiency, the signal-to-background ratio of J/ψ, the separation of Υ 1S from 2S+3S states, and the electron-muon correlation from charm pair production in the RHIC environment are presented.