Mathematics – Probability
Scientific paper
Jul 2007
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2007dda....38.0301m&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, DDA meeting #38, #3.01
Mathematics
Probability
Scientific paper
We have previously discussed binary-planet close encounters as a promising mechanism for capturing the large 100-km irregular satellites of Jupiter and Saturn (McGleam et al., 2006 DDA). In our approach, binaries are tidally disrupted and the slower component is captured to a weakly-bound distant orbit. The current irregular satellites are more tightly bound than these capture orbits, so we require a weak dissipative force such as gas drag to shrink the orbits over long timescales. There are several advantages to our mechanism: i) only weak gas drag for orbital evolution is needed (as opposed to strong gas drag to enable capture), and ii) an improved capture probability when compared to a single interloper.
Here we present several large-scale simulations comparing the capture statistics of single-object and binary encounters. Our integrations typically include 10,000 interlopers (binaries or single objects), Jupiter (assumed to be on a circular orbit), and the Sun. We start the bodies at the Hill sphere on random trajectories with a specified Jacobi constant. In our preliminary explorations, we find that, as expected, it is easier to capture one component of a binary than to trap single objects. We will discuss the dependence of the capture probability on the interlopers' initial speed and will also examine the importance of other characteristics of the binary.
We gratefully acknowledge support from the NASA Origins program.
Agnor Craig Bruce
Hamilton Douglas P.
McGleam Catherine
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