The Dynamics of Centaurs in the Vicinity of the 2:1 Mean Motion Resonance of Neptune and Uranus Trojan Region

TL;DR

This study investigates the orbital evolution of Centaurs near Neptune's 2:1 mean motion resonance, revealing rapid escape and diffusion throughout the Solar System, with some objects remaining near resonance for over a million years.

Contribution

It provides detailed dynamical simulations of Centaurs near Neptune's 2:1 resonance, highlighting their short libration times and diffusion processes due to planetary encounters.

Findings

Most Centaurs escape the resonance quickly

Average libration time is about 27 kyr

Some objects stay near resonance for over 1 Myr

Abstract

In this work we present the results of a suite of dynamical simulations following the orbital evolution of 8,022 hypothetical Centaur objects. These Centaurs begin our integrations on orbits in the vicinity of the 2:1 mean motion resonance with Neptune, and we follow their dynamical evolution for a period of 3 Myr under the gravitational influence of a motionless Sun and the four Jovian planets. The great majority of the test particles studied rapidly escaped from the vicinity of the 2:1 mean motion resonance of Neptune and diffused throughout the Solar System. The average libration time of Centaurs in the vicinity of 2:1 mean motion resonance of Neptune was found to be just 27 kyr. Although two particles did remain near the resonance for more than 1 Myr. Upon leaving the vicinity of the 2:1 resonance, the majority of test particles evolved by a process of random walk in semi-major axis, due to repeated close encounters with the giant planets.