Resonance capture in 3d

Event type
Event date
Venue
GAP room
Speaker
Helena Morais (Universidade de São Paulo)

Abstract: The study of configurations where the orbital motions are in synchrony (resonances) is important to understand the formation and evolution of the solar-system and other planetary systems. In particular, dissipative forces acting on small bodies (e.g. gas drag in early stages of the planetary system) cause slow orbital decay until capture in a resonance with a planet occurs. Previous studies of capture in resonance have been restricted to coplanar or nearly coplanar configurations. However, small bodies can have orbits which are significantly inclined with respect to the planet's orbital plane. I will present results of simulations of resonance capture in a three-dimensional model which includes prograde and retrograde orbits (respectively, inclined by less or more than 90 degrees with respect to the planet's orbit). I will show that the probability of capture in resonance has a strong dependence on inclination. In particular, retrograde orbits are more likely to be captured in resonance than prograde orbits. This study has been published in Namouni & Morais, MNRAS, 446, 1998–2009, 2015.

Helena Morais (Universidade de São Paulo)