Survey of secular resonances in the asteroid belt

Using a recently introduced synthetic method to compute the asteroid secular frequencies (Knezevic and Milani 2019), in this paper we survey the locations of secular resonances in the 9 dynamically distinct zones of the asteroid belt. Positions of all resonances up to order four, of a significant fraction of the order six resonances, and of a several order eight ones were determined, plotted in the space of proper elements, and discussed in relation to the local dynamics and to the structure and shape of the nearby asteroid collisional families. Only the resonant combinations with fundamental frequencies of Jupiter and Saturn were considered, with a few special cases involving other planets and largest asteroids. Accuracy of the polynomial fit to determine the frequencies was found to be satisfactory for the purpose of determination of secular resonance positions. This enabled a precise identification of dynamical mechanisms affecting the computation of frequencies (close vicinity of the mean motion resonances and libration in secular resonances), and of the \cycle slips" as a primary technical drawback causing deterioration of the results. For each zone we also presented and discussed a fairly complete sample of recent works dealing with interaction of the secular resonances with asteroid families present in that zone. Finally, a few words were devoted to possibilities for future work.

On the accuracy of position of the linear secular resonance g − g5 in the proper elements’ space

ABSTRACT An in-depth analysis is presented of the accuracy of position of the linear secular resonance g − g5 in the phase space of proper elements, as determined by the recently introduced polynomial fit method. Different attempts to pinpoint the exact location of this resonance are described, leading to improvement in the accuracy of resonance position achieved via local adjustments of the new method and measured in comparison with the corresponding positions of selected asteroids. The resonant state and proper frequencies of the longitude of perihelion of these asteroids are determined, and compared to the catalogue values computed in the course of determination of their synthetic proper elements. The problem of cycle slips, affecting the computation of frequencies, is thoroughly examined and successfully explained, and the procedure of double filtering of the time series of proper values to remove the cycle slips proposed. The results of tests of the new approach have shown that the accuracy of newly determined frequencies is significantly improved with respect to the previously available values.

A simplified model for the secular dynamics of eccentric discs and applications to planet–disc interactions

ABSTRACT We develop a simplified model for studying the long-term evolution of giant planets in protoplanetary discs. The model accounts for the eccentricity evolution of the planets and the dynamics of eccentric discs under the influences of secular planet–disc interactions and internal disc pressure, self-gravity, and viscosity. Adopting the ansatz that the disc precesses coherently with aligned apsides, the eccentricity evolution equations of the planet–disc system reduce to a set of linearized ordinary differential equations, which allows for fast computation of the evolution of planet–disc eccentricities over long time-scales. Applying our model to ‘giant planet + external disc’ systems, we are able to reproduce and explain the secular behaviours found in previously published hydrodynamical simulations. We re-examine the possibility of eccentricity excitation (due to secular resonance) of multiple planets embedded in a dispersing disc, and find that taking into account the dynamics of eccentric discs can significantly affect the evolution of the planets’ eccentricities.

Orbital stability of Earth Trojans

The only discovery of Earth Trojan 2010 TK7 and the subsequent launch of OSIRIS-REx have motived us to investigate the stability around the triangular Lagrange points of the Earth, L4 and L5. In this paper we present detailed dynamical maps on the (a0, i0) plane with the spectral number (SN) indicating the stability. Two main stability regions, separated by a chaotic region arising from the ν3 and ν4 secular resonances, are found at low (i0 ≤ 15°) and moderate (24 ° ≤i0 ≤ 37°) inclinations, respectively. The most stable orbits reside below i0 = 10° and they can survive the age of the solar system. The nodal secular resonance ν13 could vary the inclinations from 0° to ∼10° according to their initial values, while ν14 could pump up the inclinations to ∼20° and upwards. The fine structures in the dynamical maps are related to higher degree secular resonances, of which different types dominate different areas. The dynamical behaviour of the tadpole and horseshoe orbits, reflected in their secular precession, show great differences in the frequency space. The secular resonances involving the tadpole orbits are more sensitive to the frequency drift of the inner planets, thus the instabilities could sweep across the phase space, leading to the clearance of tadpole orbits. We are more likely to find terrestrial companions on horseshoe orbits. The Yarkovsky effect could destabilize Earth Trojans in varying degrees. We numerically obtain the formula describing the stabilities affected by the Yarkovsky effect and find the asymmetry between the prograde and retrograde rotating Earth Trojans. The existence of small primordial Earth Trojans that avoid being detected but survive the Yarkovsky effect for 4.5 Gyr is substantially ruled out.

Asteroid cratering families: recognition and collisional interpretation

Aims. We continue our investigation of the bulk properties of asteroid dynamical families identified using only asteroid proper elements to provide plausible collisional interpretations. We focus on cratering families consisting of a substantial parent body and many small fragments. Methods. We propose a quantitative definition of cratering families based on the fraction in volume of the fragments with respect to the parent body; fragmentation families are above this empirical boundary. We assess the compositional homogeneity of the families and their shape in proper element space by computing the differences of the proper elements of the fragments with respect to the ones of the major body, looking for anomalous asymmetries produced either by post-formation dynamical evolution, or by multiple collisional/cratering events, or by a failure of the hierarchical clustering method (HCM) for family identification. Results. We identified a total of 25 dynamical families with more than 100 members ranging from moderate to heavy cratering. For three families (4, 15 and 283) we confirm the occurrence of two separate cratering events, while family (569) Misa is a mixed case, with one cratering event and one fragmentation event. The case of family 3 remains dubious, in that there could be either one or two collisions. For family 20, we propose a double collision origin, not previously identified. In four cases (31, 480, 163 and 179) we performed a dedicated search for dynamical resonant transport mechanisms that could have substantially changed the shape of the family. By using a new synthetic method for computation of secular frequencies, we found possible solutions for families 31, 480, and 163, but not for family 179, for which we propose a new interpretation, based on a secular resonance contaminating this family: the family of 179 should be split into two separate clusters, one containing (179) itself and the other, family (9506) Telramund, of fragmentation type, for which we have computed an age.