Investigation of a new resonant mechanism for capture of planetesimals by a protoplanet

Stephen Kortenkamp和Renu Malhotra博士将研究原行星捕获微行星的新机制，该机制涉及原行星和微行星之间不寻常的1：1共轨共振。他们的两个目标是确定这种捕获星子的共振机制是否：（1）在不规则卫星的起源中发挥作用，（2）有助于形成巨行星的原行星核。在整个拟议的研究中，Kortenkamp和Malhotra将利用计算机密集型数值模拟。这些方法包括直接N体数值积分，基于统计的星子积累模拟，以及这两种技术的混合组合。马尔霍特拉博士是亚利桑那大学教授行星科学的副教授。她的课堂活动促进了研究和教育之间的健康平衡，并为她的学生提供了令人兴奋的新发展的第一手资料。 Kortenkamp和Malhotra不仅在与其领域相关的技术期刊上发表了他们的研究成果，而且还在广泛传播给跨学科科学和非专业观众的知名期刊上发表了他们的研究成果。Kortenkamp还积极参与教育和公共宣传，定期为公众，业余天文学家以及学生和教师团体提供讲座，研讨会和课程。

Drs. Stephen Kortenkamp and Renu Malhotra will examine a new mechanism for capture of planetesimals by a protoplanet that involves an unusual 1:1 co-orbital resonance between the protoplanet and planetesimal. Their two objectives are to determine whether this resonant mechanism of planetesimal capture: (1) plays a role in the origin of irregular satellites, and (2) aids in the formation of protoplanetary cores of giant planets. Throughout the proposed research, Kortenkamp and Malhotra will utilize computer intensive numerical simulations. Such methods include direct N-body numerical integration, statistically based planetesimal accumulation simulations, and hybrid combinations of these two techniques. Dr. Malhotra is an associate professor teaching planetary science at the University of Arizona. Her classroom activities promote a healthy balance between research and education and provide her students with first-hand accounts of exciting new developments. Both Kortenkamp and Malhotra have a record of publishing their results not only in technical journals related to their field but also in prominent journals broadly disseminated to an interdisciplinary scientific and lay audience. Kortenkamp is also active in education and public outreach, regularly providing talks, workshops, and classes to the general public, amateur astronomers, and groups of students and teachers.***