The long term dynamical stability of the known Neptune Trojans
Masters Thesis
Title | The long term dynamical stability of the known Neptune Trojans |
---|---|
Type | Masters Thesis |
Authors | |
Author | Soutter, Jack Lang |
Supervisor | Marsden, Stephen |
Horner, Jonathan | |
Carter, Brad | |
Institution of Origin | University of Southern Queensland |
Qualification Name | Master of Science (Research) |
Number of Pages | 58 |
Year | 2016 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.26192/5bf629cfbc4a4 |
Abstract | The Neptune Trojans are a population of small bodies that librate around the L4 and L5 Lagrange points of Neptune’s orbit. Shortly after the discovery of the first such object, 2001 QR322, simulations suggested that the body moved on a dynamically stable orbit. Following this, further discovered objects were generally assumed to also be stable. In recent years, the situation has proved to be more complicated than previously thought. Two of Neptune’s Trojans have been found to exhibit orbital instability on billion year timescales, with another being revealed as a temporarily captured interloper. Here, the results of detailed dynamical simulations of the orbital evolution of the eleven known Neptunian Trojans are presented, examining the influence of their initial orbital semi-major axes and eccentricities on their stability. The results reveal the importance of considering the orbital stability of newly discovered objects on a case-by-case basis, with some members showing highly unstable behaviour, whilst others seem likely to be primordial in nature. |
Keywords | Neptune Trojans; orbital stability |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 519999. Other physical sciences not elsewhere classified |
Byline Affiliations | Faculty of Sciences |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q45q7/the-long-term-dynamical-stability-of-the-known-neptune-trojans
Download files
1355
total views105
total downloads4
views this month2
downloads this month