The physical and dynamical properties of the Kuiper belt as a probe of the processes of planet formation.

柯伊伯带的物理和动力学特性作为行星形成过程的探针。

• 批准号: RGPIN-2016-05499
• 负责人: Kavelaars, JJ
• 金额: $ 3.64万
• 依托单位: University of Victoria
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=709261
• 关键词: physical; dynamical; properties; Kuiper; belt

The Kuiper belt provides a valuable window into the processes of planet formation. We will conduct ground and spacecraft observations of Kuiper belt objects (KBOs) to provide a detailed picture of the processes of planet formation in this region of the solar system. These observational campaigns will make use the Canada France Hawaii Telescope, the GEMINI telescopes and the New Horizons spacecraft, as well as supporting observations from an array of facilities. Specific projects include: - We will conduct ground based observations to measure of the size-frequency distribution of KBOs. In particular comparing distributions as a function of orbital class. Cosmogenic models of the formation of the outer solar system indicate that various sub-classes of the Kuiper belt formed under different conditions and thus the size distributions, a signature of the formation process, should be different. We will compare the size distributions in the range between 100 and 30km, where the accretion/collision processes should be dominant and at sizes between 10 and 1km where the total mass originally available for formation is the constraining parameter. - Application of a novel technique for detection of stellar occultations by mid-sized (~100km) KBOs, detection of which will allow a connection between observed luminosity function of KBOs and the desired size distribution. Currently, infrared observations and traditional occultation observations enable the connection between luminosity and size for the largest (+1000km) KBOs, much larger than sizes where the interplay between accretion and collision in the Kuiper belt is probed. - New Horizons Spacecraft a ~100km sized KBO which will greatly increase our understanding of these objects. Observations of surface scaring, albedo variations, surface properties, etc. are all ground truths that can only be obtained via a spacecraft visit. We will also obtain, during the flight, observations of other KBOs at higher resolution than can be achieved from the ground, probing for multiplicity in those systems.

柯伊伯带提供了一个了解行星形成过程的宝贵窗口。我们将对柯伊伯带天体（KBO）进行地面和航天器观测，以提供太阳系这一区域行星形成过程的详细图像。 这些观测活动将利用加拿大-法国夏威夷望远镜、GEMINI望远镜和新地平线号航天器，以及一系列设施的辅助观测。 具体项目包括： - 我们将进行地面观测，以测量KBO的大小-频率分布。特别是比较分布作为轨道类的函数。外太阳系形成的宇宙成因模型表明，柯伊伯带的各种子类在不同的条件下形成，因此形成过程的标志-尺寸分布应该是不同的。我们将比较在100和30公里之间的范围内的大小分布，其中吸积/碰撞过程应该是占主导地位的，并在10和1公里之间的大小，其中最初可用于形成的总质量是约束参数。 - 应用一种新技术来检测中等大小（~ 100 km）KBO的恒星掩星，对该技术的检测将使观测到的KBO的光度函数与所需的尺寸分布之间建立联系。目前，红外线观测和传统的掩星观测使得最大的（+1000公里）KBO的光度和尺寸之间的联系成为可能，比探测柯伊伯带吸积和碰撞之间相互作用的尺寸要大得多。 - 新视野号宇宙飞船将探测到一个100公里大小的KBO，这将大大增加我们对这些天体的了解。对表面惊吓、彗星变化、表面特性等的观测都是地面实况，只能通过航天器访问获得。 我们还将在飞行期间以比地面更高的分辨率获得对其他KBO的观测，探索这些系统中的多重性。