Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
May 2009
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009dda....40.1205m&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, DDA meeting #40, #12.05; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 41, p.906
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
Scientific paper
We have performed a series of 4 Gy long numerical integrations of test particles in the main asteroid belt under the gravitational perturbation of the giant planets. We find that the dynamical loss history of test particles from this region is well described by n = a - m log t, where n is the number of test particles remaining. The loss history has two phases, an initial high loss-rate (high m) phase lasting for t = 10 My, and a lower loss-rate (lower m) phase that persists to at least t = 4 Gy. This relationship generally holds for 0.02 AU subdivisions in semimajor axis within the main belt region, but each subregion has its own unique values for the slopes of both the high loss-rate and low loss-rate phases, as well as the time at which the slope changes. Our study indicates that the asteroid belt region has potentially experienced a significant amount of depletion - as much as 35% of its current mass - over the last 4 Gy due to this dynamical erosion. This dynamical loss is the dominant loss mechanism for larger asteroids, diameter D > 50 km. Smaller asteroids are also greatly affected by collisional processes. Approximately half of the depletion would have occurred within the first 200 My after the current dynamical architecture of the solar system was established. We discuss what implications this has for the state of the asteroid belt of 4 Gy ago and for the impact history of the terrestrial planets.
Malhotra Renu
Minton David A.
No associations
LandOfFree
Dynamical Erosion of the Asteroid 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 Dynamical Erosion of the Asteroid Belt, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Dynamical Erosion of the Asteroid Belt will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-808720