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A systematic survey of von Zeipel–Lidov–Kozai resonances among trans-Neptunian objects: Empirical confirmation of the coupling with mean motion resonances

Smirnov, Evgeny & Žitnik, Ivana Milić (2026)

Published
Sep 1, 2026
DOI
10.1016/j.icarus.2026.117101

At a GlanceAI

Census of ZLK resonances among 1037 numbered TNOs: every ZLK-resonant object is also in a mean-motion resonance with Neptune.

SummaryAI

The authors search all 1,037 numbered TNOs (AstDyS, a > 30 au) for von Zeipel-Lidov-Kozai resonances with integrations up to 300 Myr. They find 81 objects (about 7.8%) in ZLK resonance and 23 more that alternate between libration and circulation. All of them are simultaneously in two-body resonances with Neptune, an empirical confirmation of theoretical predictions; the 2:3 dominates (58 objects). Libration centers cluster near 90 and 270 degrees except in the 1:2, where they shift. Notable cases include a retrograde TNO and an object in the high-order 1:18 resonance, showing that 1:N and high-order resonances can sustain ZLK dynamics far from the Sun.

Method SnapshotAI

Numerical integration of all numbered TNOs and automated identification of ZLK and mean-motion resonances.

BackgroundAI

Kozai (ZLK) mechanism and mean-motion resonances.

Mass search for ZLKR among TNOs. Every ZLKR sits inside an MMR: theory confirmed. And there is a high-order 1:N MMR-ZLKR: Gallardo's hypothesis confirmed too.

— ES