Numerical simulations of the formation of various satellite systems via giant impact

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K03950
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 17010:Space and planetary sciences-related
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: Sasaki Takanori 京都大学, 理学研究科, 助教 (70614064)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 衛星系形成 / N体計算 / 月形成 / 天王星衛星系形成 / 巨大天体衝突 / ハウメア

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Large-scale N-body calculations were executed to investigate the formation process of various satellite systems from diverse debris disks. Three main results are introduced below. (1) We examined the formation process of Uranian satellite systems from debris disks formed after the giant impact on Uranus, and problems are pointed out and solutions are proposed. (2) We proposed a scenario in which the rings and satellites of the dwarf planet Haumea were formed by an impact on Haumea. (3) We statistically verified the formation process of various satellites, including extrasolar satellites, by giant impact using a large number of parameter studies.

Free Research Field

惑星科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

巨大天体衝突後に形成されるデブリ円盤からの、太陽系の天体（月・天王星衛星・ハウメアリングなど）の形成過程を明らかにするだけでなく、系外衛星を含めた多様な衛星系の形成過程を検証した点は、国際的にもユニークで新しい試みであり学術的意義は大きい。また系外衛星の候補天体が報告されつつある今、世界に先駆けて系外衛星形成に関する研究を行ったことも重要である。さらに近年、系外惑星観測や太陽系内の天体探査に対する社会全体の関心は急速に高まっており、本成果の社会的意義も大きいといえる。