Gravitational Interaction with a Rogue Planet
There are been two ideas that invoke massive objects careening through KB.
- Earth-mass objects scattered from between Uranus and Neptune
(Morbidelli & Valsecchi; Petit et al.)
- These models may explain eccentricities. But not inclinations.
- Uranus and Neptune scattered from between Jupiter and Saturn.
(Thommes et al.)
- Invoked to solve the timescale problem for Uranus and Neptune's formation.
- Does get the planets in roughly the correct location.
- Explains the D/H differences between Uranus/Neptune and comets.
- May explain the a-e distribution of the main KB.
- Does not get the correct inclinations. Largest i'=15O.
But can this work in principle?
- Can we heat the KB up enough by scattering KBOs off of a precessing, eccentric(e=0.2), inclined (i=25O), planet.
- Earth and Mars mass objects cannot do it, but objects with
can.
- But it takes at least a million years!
- What about secular resonances in the same type of system.
- Now even objects as small as Earth can excite the Kuiper belt.
- However, it take ~10Myrs!
The full simulations above did not work because the planets did not last long enough.
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