A Monte Carlo simulation of the orbital evolution of comets in the inner planetary region

Details A Monte Carlo simulation of the orbital evolution of comets in the inner planetary region A Monte Carlo simulation of the orbital evolution of comets in the inner planetary region

Sep 1976

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1976a%26a....51..327r&link_type=abstract

Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 51, no. 3, Sept. 1976, p. 327-342.

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

29

Celestial Mechanics, Comets, Computerized Simulation, Monte Carlo Method, Orbit Perturbation, Planetary Environments, Evolution (Development), Gravitational Effects, Jupiter (Planet), Orbital Mechanics, Saturn (Planet)

Scientific paper

An estimate of the capture efficiency needed to maintain the population of the Jupiter family of short-period comets in a quasi-steady state is derived by applying a direct Monte Carlo simulation to analyze the statistical properties of cometary transfer between intermediate-period orbits and the observable part of the Jupiter family. It is assumed that comets with aphelia near Saturn's orbit and perihelia near Jupiter's orbit constitute the source for replenishment of the short-period population and that the orbital evolution of the comets is governed by gravitational perturbations by Jupiter as well as the physical disintegration of cometary nuclei. A numerical experiment is performed which simulates the orbital evolution of a large population of intermediate- and short-period comets over a period of about 10,000 years. A comparison of the simulated evolution with that expected in the absence of Jupiter's perturbing influence shows that gravitational captures by Jupiter can balance the losses due to disintegration. However, the results of the numerical experiment indicate that the capture efficiency is low, implying a very rich population for the Saturn family if this is the only source for replenishment.

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