Study and application of the resonant secular dynamics beyond Neptune

TL;DR

This study uses a secular model to analyze the long-term dynamics of transneptunian objects in resonance with Neptune, revealing high-perihelion zones and the limitations of resonance-driven detachment explanations.

Contribution

The paper applies a secular representation to systematically explore transneptunian object dynamics, identifying high-perihelion accumulation zones and their origins, with implications for external perturbers.

Findings

High-amplitude perihelion oscillations localized in parameter space

Large perihelion distance alone does not imply object detachment

Oort Cloud significantly contributes to high-perihelion transneptunian objects

Abstract

We use a secular representation to describe the long-term dynamics of transneptunian objects in mean-motion resonance with Neptune. The model applied is thoroughly described in Saillenfest et al. (2016). The parameter space is systematically explored, showing that the secular trajectories depend little on the resonance order. High-amplitude oscillations of the perihelion distance are reported and localised in the space of the orbital parameters. In particular, we show that a large perihelion distance is not a sufficient criterion to declare that an object is detached from the planets. Such a mechanism, though, is found unable to explain the orbits of Sedna or 2012VP113, which are insufficiently inclined (considering their high perihelion distance) to be possibly driven by such a resonant dynamics. The secular representation highlights the existence of a high-perihelion accumulation zone due to resonances of type 1:k with Neptune. That region is found to be located roughly at semi-major axes in [100;300] AU, perihelion distances in [50;70] AU and inclinations [30;50]{\deg}. In addition to the flux of objects directly coming from the Scattered Disc, numerical simulations show that the Oort Cloud is also a substantial source for such objects. Naturally, as that mechanism relies on fragile captures in high-order resonances, our conclusions break down in the case of a significant external perturber. The detection of such a reservoir could thus be an observational constraint to probe the external Solar System.