Out-of-the-Ecliptic Dust Investigation via Solar Orbiter RPW Observations

The complex makeup of interplanetary dust undergoes a continuous cycle of production, transport, and diminishment through various physical processes. The zodiacal cloud, a vast structure within the Solar System originating from particles released by comets and asteroids, undergoes erosion through collisional grinding, fragmentation, sputtering, and sublimation when it is near the Sun. The primary driver of the inner zodiacal cloud evolution is collisional erosion; however, collision rates and the associated fragmentation in the most frequent collision areas have not been well quantified. Solar Orbiter (SolO) is gradually increasing its inclination, enabling measurements to be taken beyond the ecliptic plane (~17° latitude in 2025-2026). This latitudinal tilt allows SolO to sample regions above and below the ecliptic plane. Our work aims to provide two scientific insights through a comprehensive data-model comparison: (1) What are the spatial and temporal variabilities of the inner heliospheric dust environment? (2) To what extent does collisional fragmentation contribute to the mass loss of the zodiacal cloud with latitudinal dependence?