Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
Oct 2011
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2011epsc.conf..542k&link_type=abstract
EPSC-DPS Joint Meeting 2011, held 2-7 October 2011 in Nantes, France. http://meetings.copernicus.org/epsc-dps2011, p.542
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Scientific paper
Because they are so weakly bound, the orbits of wide binary stars evolve greatly under the influence of the Galactic tide and impulses from passing field stars. Most systems eventually pass through phases of high eccentricity, and this can have catastrophic consequences for the planets orbiting within these binary systems. During these eccentric phases, close encounters between the two binary members occur, and any planets orbiting the stars can be strongly perturbed. We use numerical simulations to study the planetary dynamics within such wide binaries, and we find that dynamical instabilities are common. For planetary configurations like our own solar system, we find that a wide binary companion (a > 1000 AU) will trigger planetary ejections in 1/3 to 1/2 of all systems. Interestingly, these ejections and instabilities typically occur only after hundreds of Myrs or Gyrs of evolution, possibly generating events similar to the LHB instability that occurred in our own solar system.
Duncan Martin J.
Kaib Nathan A.
Raymond Sean N.
No associations
LandOfFree
Planetary System Disruption Within Wide Binary Star Systems does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Planetary System Disruption Within Wide Binary Star Systems, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Planetary System Disruption Within Wide Binary Star Systems will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1478127