The role of the general relativity on icy body reservoirs under the effects of an inner eccentric Jupiter

TL;DR

This study investigates how General Relativity influences the dynamics of outer small body populations affected by an eccentric inner Jupiter, revealing significant modifications in orbital behaviors and the emergence of new particle classes.

Contribution

It demonstrates the impact of General Relativity on the orbital evolution of outer particles under an eccentric Jupiter, highlighting new dynamical behaviors and classes of particles.

Findings

GR affects the range of inclinations and node longitudes of outer particles.

New classes of particles emerge with distinct orbital flipping behaviors.

GR significantly alters the dynamical properties of outer reservoirs.

Abstract

Recent studies have analyzed the dynamical evolution of outer small body populations under the effects of an eccentric inner massive perturber. Such outer reservoirs are composed of particles on prograde and retrograde orbits, as well as particles whose orbit flips from prograde to retrograde and back again showing a coupling between the inclination i and the ascending node longitude \Omega (Type-F particles). We analyze the role of the General Relativity (GR) on the dynamics of outer particles under the influence of an inner eccentric Jupiter-mass planet produced by a planetary scattering event. In particular, we study how the GR affects the dynamical evolution of the outer Type-F particles, which experience an eccentric Lidov-Kozai mechanism. We carry out N-body simulations with and without GR effects. When the GR is included, the extreme values of \Omega are obtained for retrograde inclinations, while the minimum and maximum inclinations allowed for Type-F particles increase in comparison with that derived without GR effects. According to this, if the GR is included in the simulations, the range of prograde (retrograde) inclinations of the libration region is reduced (increased) respect to that obtained in absence of GR. We find two new class of particles when the GR effects are included in the simulations. On the one hand, particles whose orbital plane flips from prograde to retrograde and back again without experiencing a coupling between i and \Omega. On the other hand, retrograde particles that show a strong coupling between i and \Omega. We infer that the GR may significantly modify the dynamical properties of the outer reservoirs that evolve under the effects of an eccentric inner perturber.