The absolute magnitude distribution of cold classical Kuiper belt objects - Archive ouverte HAL Accéder directement au contenu
Communication Dans Un Congrès Année : 2016

The absolute magnitude distribution of cold classical Kuiper belt objects

Résumé

We report measurements of the low inclination component of the main Kuiper Belt showing a size freqency distribution very steep for sizes larger than H_r ~ 6.5-7.0 and then a flattening to shallower slope that is still steeper than the collisional equilibrium slope.The Outer Solar System Origins Survey (OSSOS) is ongoing and is expected to detect over 500 TNOs in a precisely calibrated and characterized survey. Combining our current sample with CFEPS and the Alexandersen et al. (2015) survey, we analyse a sample of ~180 low inclination main classical (cold) TNOs, with absolute magnitude H_r (SDSS r' like flter) in the range 5 to 8.8. We confirm that the H_r distribution can be approximated by an exponential with a very steep slope (>1) at the bright end of the distribution, as has been recognized long ago. A transition to a shallower slope occurs around H_r ~ 6.5 - 7.0, an H_r mag identified by Fraster et al (2014). Faintward of this transition, we find a second exponential to be a good approximation at least until H_r ~ 8.5, but with a slope significantly steeper than the one proposed by Fraser et al. (2014) or even the collisional equilibrium value of 0.5.The transition in the cold TNO H_r distribution thus appears to occur at larger sizes than is observed in the high inclination main classical (hot) belt, an important indicator of a different cosmogony for these two sub-components of the main classical Kuiper belt. Given the largish slope faintward of the transition, the cold population with ~100 km diameter may dominate the mass of the Kuiper belt in the 40 AU < a < 47 au region.
Fichier non déposé

Dates et versions

hal-03563602 , version 1 (09-02-2022)

Identifiants

Citer

Jean-Marc C. Petit, Michele T. Bannister, Mike Alexandersen, Ying-Tung Chen, Brett Gladman, et al.. The absolute magnitude distribution of cold classical Kuiper belt objects. DPS 48/EPSC 11, Oct 2016, Pasadena, United States. pp.120.16. ⟨hal-03563602⟩
22 Consultations
0 Téléchargements

Partager

Gmail Facebook X LinkedIn More