Dynamical environments of MU69 and similar objects

TL;DR

This paper investigates the long-term chaotic dynamics of particles around Kuiper belt objects like MU69, using stability diagrams and analytical models to understand particle cloud formation and evolution.

Contribution

It introduces a novel analysis of particle chaos and cloud evolution around contact-binary Kuiper belt objects using stability diagrams and Kepler map theory.

Findings

Chaotic diffusion affects particle cloud stability around MU69.

Particle cloud lifetimes are estimated based on chaotic dynamics.

Analytical models provide insights into long-term particle behavior.

Abstract

We explore properties of the long-term dynamics of particles (moonlets, fragments, debris etc.) around KBO 2014 MU69 (Arrokoth), as well as around similar contact-binary objects potentially present in the Kuiper belt. The chaotic diffusion of particles inside the Hill sphere of MU69 (or, generally, a similar object) is studied by means of construction of appropriate stability diagrams and by application of analytical approaches generally based on the Kepler map theory. The formation and evolution of the particle clouds, due to the chaotic diffusion inside the Hill sphere, are studied and the cloud lifetimes are estimated.