Interpretation of surface temperatures and activity of KOSI samples

A thermal model is introduced that describes the temperature and activity behavior of an insolated porousice-dust mixture. The results are compared with measurements during the comet simulation experiments KOSI 9 and KOSI 10. From the comparison of theoretical with experimental results thermal properties of the KOSI samples and the nature of the dust mantle formation are derived. The differences and similarities between KOSI results and cometary physics are discussed.