A New Planet in the Solar System? Investigating the Role of Undiscovered Planets on the Formation and Evolution of the Kuiper Belt in the Outer Solar System

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This research has two main goals: (1) How does a Kuiper Belt Planet (KBP) located beyond Neptune perturb the orbits of trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs)? (2) The Kuiper Belt orbital structure by considering the existence of KBPs in the early solar system. The main achievements so far are:- The model of the intrinsic Kuiper Belt was completed in FY2022. This model considered the real resonant + distant populations and investigated the effects of potential KBPs. This model simulations finished during 2022. Overall, I found that KBPs located beyond 100 astronomical units and with masses comparable to or less than Earth’s allowed the survival of these observed populations. Thus, I validated the results by constraining the properties of the investigated KBPs. After thoroughly analyzing the data of the intrinsic Kuiper Belt model described above, I summarized the main results in a paper by the end of FY2022 and submitted it to a journal with peer review. Currently, this paper is under revision.- The model of formation of the Kuiper Belt including and not including KBPs was executed successfully in FY2022. This model considered the early solar system and investigated the effects of primordial KBPs. This model simulations finished during 2022. I have recently finished analyzing the data from these simulations. Overall, I found that many systems with KBPs can better explain the Kuiper Belt structure. I intend to summarize the main results in a new paper during 2023.In conclusion, as planned, the entire achievement of the main goals was obtained by the end of FY2022.