Kuiper Binary Object Formation
Abstract
It has been observed that binary Kuiper Belt Objects (KBOs) exist contrary to theoretical expectations. Their creation presents problems to most current models. However, the inclusion of a third body (for example, one of the outer planets) may provide the conditions necessary for the formation of these objects. The presence of a third massive body not only helps to clear the primordial Kuiper Belt but can also result in long lived binary Kuiper belt objects. The gravitational interaction between the KBOs and the third body causes one of four effects; scattering into the Oort cloud, collisions with the growing protoplanets, formation of binary pairs, or creation of a single Kuiper belt object. Additionally, the initial location of the progenitors of the Kuiper belt objects also has a significant effect on binary formation.
Cite
@article{arxiv.astro-ph/0507149,
title = {Kuiper Binary Object Formation},
author = {R. C. Nazzario and K. Orr and C. Covington and D. Kagan and T. W. Hyde},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:astro-ph/0507149},
year = {2008}
}