Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics – Earth and Planetary Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2011-12-08
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Earth and Planetary Astrophysics
Accepted to ApJ. Update: Fixed typos in text and Appendix equations. Published as ApJ, 746, 171
Scientific paper
10.1088/0004-637X/746/2/171
The current dynamical structure of the Kuiper belt was shaped by the orbital evolution of the giant planets, especially Neptune, during the era following planet formation, when the giant planets may have undergone planet-planet scattering and/or planetesimal-driven migration. Numerical simulations of this process, while reproducing many properties of the belt, fail to generate the high inclinations and eccentricities observed for some objects while maintaining the observed dynamically "cold" population. We present the first of a three-part parameter study of how different dynamical histories of Neptune sculpt the planetesimal disk. Here we identify which dynamical histories allow an in situ planetesimal disk to remain dynamically cold, becoming today's cold Kuiper belt population. We find that if Neptune undergoes a period of elevated eccentricity and/or inclination, it secularly excites the eccentricities and inclinations of the planetesimal disk. We demonstrate that there are several well-defined regimes for this secular excitation, depending on the relative timescales of Neptune's migration, the damping of Neptune's orbital inclination and/or eccentricity, and the secular evolution of the planetesimals. We model this secular excitation analytically in each regime, allowing for a thorough exploration of parameter space. Neptune's eccentricity and inclination can remain high for a limited amount of time without disrupting the cold classical belt. In the regime of slow damping and slow migration, if Neptune is located (for example) at 20 AU, then its eccentricity must stay below 0.18 and its inclination below 6{\deg}.
Dawson Rebekah I.
Murray-Clay Ruth A.
Wolff Schuyler
No associations
LandOfFree
Neptune on tiptoes: dynamical histories that preserve the cold classical Kuiper belt 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 Neptune on tiptoes: dynamical histories that preserve the cold classical Kuiper belt, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Neptune on tiptoes: dynamical histories that preserve the cold classical Kuiper belt will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-42927