Possible observation of charged nanodust from comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko: An analysis for the ROSETTA mission

Nanodust particles are ubiquitous in the solar system; we may expect that comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko, the target of the upcoming ROSETTA mission, is also a source of nanodust, that is dust particles of nanometer size. Due to their small size and mass, the dust detectors cannot observe them directly neither on the orbiter nor on the Philae lander. However, if nanodust grains get charged, the ion and electron sensors on board of the orbiter might detect them.