Observable Signatures of the Ejection Speed of Interstellar Objects from their Birth Systems

TL;DR

This paper discusses how upcoming surveys like LSST can distinguish between different populations of interstellar objects based on their ejection speeds, velocity dispersion, and angular distribution, enhancing understanding of planetary system origins.

Contribution

It introduces a method to infer ejection speed distributions of interstellar objects from survey data, linking observational signatures to planetary system formation processes.

Findings

LSST will enable statistical separation of ejection speed populations.

Velocity dispersion and anisotropy can distinguish low- and high-ejection-speed objects.

Results will improve understanding of planetary system formation and evolution.

Abstract

`Oumuamua and Borisov were the first two interstellar objects confirmed in the Solar system. The upcoming commencement of the Vera C. Rubin Observatory's Legacy Survey of Space of Time (LSST) will enhance greatly the discovery rate of interstellar objects. This raises the question, what can be learned from large-number statistics of interstellar objects? Here, we show that discovery statistics provided by LSST will allow low- and high-ejection-speed populations to be distinguished using the velocity dispersion and angular anisotropy of interstellar objects. These findings can be combined with physical characterizations to yield a better understanding of planetary system origin and nature.