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intermediate

The resonant trans-Neptunian populations

Gladman, B. et al. (2012)

Published
Jul 1, 2012
DOI
10.1088/0004-6256/144/1/23

At a GlanceAI

CFEPS-based population estimates for ten Neptunian resonances; distant resonances are far more populated than models predicted.

SummaryAI

Using Canada-France Ecliptic Plane Survey detections and careful modeling of longitude-dependent detection biases, the authors estimate populations and orbital distributions for the 3:2, 5:2, 2:1, 3:1, 5:1, 4:3, 5:3, 7:3, 5:4 and 7:4 resonances, plus an upper limit on Neptune Trojans. The 5:2 is found to be as populated as the 3:2 (about 13,000 objects with Hg < 9.16), the 2:1 three to four times smaller. The main tension with published migration models: resonances beyond the 2:1 hold far more objects than models produce.

Method SnapshotAI

Survey-simulator modeling of resonant populations with bias correction.

BackgroundAI

Mean-motion resonance dynamics (libration, resonant angle) and survey bias.

Foundational work on MMRs among TNOs.

— ES