Dynamical Evolution of Main Belt Meteoroids: Numerical Simulations Incorporating Planetary Perturbations and Yarkovsky Thermal Forces
Abstract
In the Yarkovsky effect, the recoil from asymmetric, reradiated thermal energy causes objects to undergo semimajor axis drift as a function of their spin, orbit, and material properties. We consider the role played by this mechanism in delivering meteoroids from parent bodies in the main belt to chaotic resonance zones where they can be transported to Earth-crossing orbits. Previous work has approximated the dynamical evolution of meteoroids via Yarkovsky forces, mostly through the use of the perturbations equation and simplified dynamics (e.g., Monte Carlo codes). In this paper, we calculate more precise solutions by formulating the seasonal and diurnal variants of this radiation force and incorporating them into an efficient N-body integrator capable of tracking test bodies for tens of millions of years with all relevant planetary perturbations included. Tests of our code against published benchmarks and the perturbation equations verify its accuracy. Results from long-term numerical integration of meter-sized bodies started from likely meteoroid parent bodies (e.g., 4 Vesta) indicate that dynamical evolution in the inner main belt can be complex. Chaotic effects produced by weaker planetary resonances allow many meteoroids to reach Mars-crossing orbits well before entering the 3:1 mean-motion resonance with Jupiter or the ν 6 secular resonance. Outward-evolving meteoroids sometimes become captured in these weaker resonances, increasing e and/or i while a stays constant. Conversely, inward-evolving meteoroids frequently jump across mean-motion resonances with Jupiter, bypassing potential "escape hatches" from the main belt. Despite these effects, our simulations indicate that most stony meteoroids reach Earth-crossing orbits via the 3:1 or ν 6 resonance after tens of Myr of evolution in the main belt. These time scales correspond well to the measured cosmic ray exposure ages of chondrites and achondrites. The source of these meteorites, however, is less clear, since Yarkovsky drift allows nearly any body in the main belt to add to the cumulate meteoroid flux. Our results suggest that small parent bodies dominate the meteoroid flux if the main belt size distribution at sub-km sizes is in collisional equilibrium, while big parent bodies dominate if observed population trends for km-sized bodies persist to smaller sizes.
- Publication:
-
Icarus
- Pub Date:
- June 2000
- DOI:
- 10.1006/icar.2000.6361
- Bibcode:
- 2000Icar..145..301B