Cross-section of a power-law fragment population (${\sigma }_{\mathrm{tot}}$)

For spherical fragments of common mass density $\rho$, with $n(D)=K{D}^{-\alpha }$ between specified diameter cutoffs, mass normalization of a power-law size distribution and integration of the geometric cross-section giveIndeed $m=(\pi \rho K/6)\int D^{3-\alpha }dD$ and ${\sigma }_{\mathrm{tot}}=(\pi K/4)\int D^{2-\alpha }dD$; eliminating $K$ proves the formula. If both cutoff ratios raised to $\alpha -3$ and $4-\alpha$ are small, respectively, this reduces to $3m(4-\alpha )D_{\min }^{3-\alpha }{D}_{\max }^{\alpha -4}/[2\rho (\alpha -3)]$. Approaching either endpoint requires the corresponding logarithmic integral.

If a spherical parent and its fragments have the same mass density, substitute $m=\pi \rho D_c^3/6$ into the endpoint-dominated cross-section of a power-law fragment population. The diameter obeysThis inversion requires specified fragment cutoffs. If $D_{\max }=\eta D_c$ instead, solving that dependence changes the power of $D_c$ to $\alpha -1$. It is useful for estimating the parent comet needed to supply an observed debris disk, subject to the assumed fragment model.