PLANET-PLANET SCATTERING IN PLANETESIMAL DISKS
- Center for Astrophysics and Space Astronomy, 389 UCB, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309 (United States)
- Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309 (United States)
- Google, Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043 (United States)
We study the final architecture of planetary systems that evolve under the combined effects of planet-planet and planetesimal scattering. Using N-body simulations we investigate the dynamics of marginally unstable systems of gas and ice giants both in isolation and when the planets form interior to a planetesimal belt. The unstable isolated systems evolve under planet-planet scattering to yield an eccentricity distribution that matches that observed for extrasolar planets. When planetesimals are included the outcome depends upon the total mass of the planets. For M {sub tot} {approx}> 1 M{sub J} the final eccentricity distribution remains broad, whereas for M {sub tot} {approx}< 1 M{sub J} a combination of divergent orbital evolution and recircularization of scattered planets results in a preponderance of nearly circular final orbits. We also study the fate of marginally stable multiple planet systems in the presence of planetesimal disks, and find that for high planet masses the majority of such systems evolve into resonance. A significant fraction leads to resonant chains that are planetary analogs of Jupiter's Galilean satellites. We predict that a transition from eccentric to near-circular orbits will be observed once extrasolar planet surveys detect sub-Jovian mass planets at orbital radii of a {approx_equal} 5-10 AU.
- OSTI ID:
- 21313047
- Journal Information:
- Astrophysical Journal (Online), Vol. 699, Issue 2; Other Information: DOI: 10.1088/0004-637X/699/2/L88; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1538-4357
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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