Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Jan 2012
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2012aas...21933411l&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, AAS Meeting #219, #334.11
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
Scientific paper
We study the effect of the outer solar system architecture on the flux of Earth-crossing comets. In particular, we seek to quantify the role of the giant planets as ``planetary protectors''. Because the outer planets modify the structure of the Oort Cloud throughout its formation, we must follow its evolution over the full age of the solar system. We have run simulations in each of 4 different planetary mass configurations to analyze the structure and formation of each Oort Cloud and to better constrain the flux of comets into the inner solar system. Particles are integrated over 4.5 Gyrs under the influence of the giant planets, the Galactic tide, and passing stars. We find that the structure of the Oort Cloud, including the location of boundaries and the relative number of comets in the inner and outer Oort Cloud, does not change significantly between configurations. As overall planetary mass decreases, the flux of comets increases. Trapping efficiency of the Oort Cloud also increases, as expected. We find that Saturn is as effective as Jupiter at deflecting possible Earth-crossing comets, as reflected by the fact that a comparable numbers of particles enter the inner solar system when we independently reduce their masses. In each configuration, we confirm the conclusion from Kaib & Quinn (2009) that the majority of observable comets originate in the inner Oort Cloud. Although the final effect may be small, accounting for the formation and growth of the giant planets in simulations may help us better understand the trapping efficiency of the Oort Cloud and the mass of the protoplanetary disk.
Lewis Alexia
Quinn Terry
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