Spin-Spin Coupling in the Solar System
Abstract
The richness of dynamical behavior exhibited by the rotational states of various solar system objects has driven significant advances in the theoretical understanding of their evolutionary histories. An important factor that determines whether a given object is prone to exhibiting non-trivial rotational evolution is the extent to which such an object can maintain a permanent aspheroidal shape, meaning that exotic behavior is far more common among the small body populations of the solar system. Gravitationally bound binary objects constitute a substantial fraction of asteroidal and TNO populations, comprising systems of triaxial satellites that orbit permanently deformed central bodies. In this work, we explore the rotational evolution of such systems with specific emphasis on quadrupole–quadrupole interactions, and show that for closely orbiting, highly deformed objects, both prograde and retrograde spin–spin resonances naturally arise. Subsequently, we derive capture probabilities for leading order commensurabilities and apply our results to the illustrative examples of (87) Sylvia and (216) Kleopatra asteroid systems. Cumulatively, our results suggest that spin–spin coupling may be consequential for highly elongated, tightly orbiting binary objects.
Additional Information
© 2015 The American Astronomical Society. Received 2015 July 16; accepted 2015 August 3; published 2015 September 3. We are thankful to Mike Brown for inspirational conversations and to Michael Efroimsky for providing an expedient and thorough referee report, which led to an improved manuscript.Attached Files
Published - Batygin_2015.pdf
Submitted - 1508.00616v1.pdf
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Additional details
- Eprint ID
- 61469
- Resolver ID
- CaltechAUTHORS:20151023-085132133
- Created
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2015-10-23Created from EPrint's datestamp field
- Updated
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2021-11-10Created from EPrint's last_modified field
- Caltech groups
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences