Tidal interactions - crude body model in dynamical investigations

TL;DR

This study investigates the dynamics of small, tidally influenced binary bodies near giant planets using a simple contact binary model, revealing different spin behaviors and implications for slow rotator formation.

Contribution

It introduces a crude body model for dynamical studies of small bodies and analyzes their spin variations during planetary encounters, providing insights into slow rotator creation.

Findings

Fast rotators exhibit large interim angular velocity fluctuations.

Slow rotators show permanent spin changes after close approaches.

Results support a hypothesis for the formation of extremely slow rotators.

Abstract

The paper presents results of investigations of small bodies dynamics in a vicinity of giant planets. We used the most simple body model: gravitationally bounded, rotating contact binary affected by the tidal force acting from a planet. Spin variations of such binaries were extensively studied during planetary close encounters. Two main types of dynamical behaviour were observed: (i) huge but interim fluctuations of the angular velocity and (ii) permanent changes of a rotation during a close approach. The first type is observed mainly for fast rotators, while the second one was encountered in a population of slowly spinning objects with periods longer than 12 hours. Conclusions on usability of such crude physical body models in dynamical investigations and a comparison to previous results were attached. The results allow us to formulate a thesis explaining the phenomenon of creation of the extremely slow rotators and an observational excess of such type of objects.