The American Astronomical Society (AAS), established in 1899 and based in Washington, DC, is the major organization of professional astronomers in North America. Its membership of about 7,000 individuals also includes physicists, mathematicians, geologists, engineers, and others whose research and educational interests lie within the broad spectrum of subjects comprising contemporary astronomy. The mission of the AAS is to enhance and share humanity's scientific understanding of the universe.
Production of the Extended Scattered Disk by Rogue Planets
Brett Gladman andCollin Chan
Published 2006 May 10 • © 2006. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A.
The Astrophysical Journal,Volume 643,Number 2Citation Brett Gladman and Collin Chan 2006ApJ643 L135DOI 10.1086/505214
Brett Gladman
AFFILIATIONS
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, 6224 Agricultural Road, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1, Canada
Collin Chan
AFFILIATIONS
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, 6224 Agricultural Road, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1, Canada
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- Received2006 February 19
- Accepted2006 April 19
- Published2006 May 10
Abstract
We show that if the early outer solar system contained one or more additional planets of an Earth mass or larger, these planets are likely to be temporarily emplaced in the Kuiper Belt's "scattered disk." While on an orbit of large semimajor axis, such a "rogue planet" may efficiently raise either (1) the perihelia of other scattered-disk objects, emplacing them in the "extended scattered disk," or (2) their orbital inclinations, to the levels currently observed in the Kuiper Belt. With even a single rogue planet present, the probability of producing extended scattered disk objects is 20%-50%. After the rogue is removed from the system (on a characteristic timescale of 200 Myr), most extended scattered disk orbits are not appreciably modified over the age of the solar system. Objects with large orbital inclinations like the outliers 2004 XR190, 2003 UB313, 2000 CR105, and Sedna are also produced.
