On the effects of accretion and fragmentation in interplanetary matter streams

The time evolution of interplanetary matter streams is studied using simple mathematical models, taking into account the effects of accretion and fragmentation. While the characteristic behaviour is determined essentiall by ₀, the initial ratio of the accretion time scale to the internal collision time scale, a focussing following an initial expansion is generally observed. The relevance of the results to cosmogenic Jet-Streams as well as present day meteor streams is discussed.