The Dynamical Structure of the Kuiper Belt and its Primordial Origin

TL;DR

This paper reviews the dynamical properties of the Kuiper belt, examines features unexplained by current models, and evaluates primordial solar system evolution theories to understand its origins.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive review of models explaining the Kuiper belt's features and discusses their advantages and limitations.

Findings

Current models struggle to fully explain Kuiper belt features.

Primordial evolution models offer potential explanations but have unresolved issues.

The chapter highlights the need for improved models of solar system formation.

Abstract

This chapter discusses the dynamical properties of the Kuiper belt population. Then, it focuses on the characteristics of the Kuiper belt that cannot be explained by its evolution in the framework of the current solar system. We review models of primordial solar system evolution that have been proposed to reproduce the Kuiper belt features, outlining advantages and problems of each of them.