Dissertation
Dynamics of the Oort Cloud and Formation of Interstellar Comets Santiago Torres Rodriguez
The solar system was formed approximately 4.56 billion years ago. Despite the numerous theories that have been developed over the years, the formation and evolution of the solar system still remain unclear.
- Author
- Torres Rodriguez, S.
- Date
- 30 April 2020
- Links
- Thesis in Leiden Repository
The solar system was formed approximately 4.56 billion years ago. Despite the numerous theories that have been developed over the years, the formation and evolution of the solar system still remain unclear.To better understand the formation and evolution of the solar system, dynamical models are needed. In particular, the study of comets can reveal critical pieces of information about this process. The comets in the solar system are located in two main regions: outside the orbit of Neptune, the Kuiper belt, and the Oort cloud. Studying the dynamical evolution of comets can help us to constrain and to understand the formation and evolution of the solar system. Both the history of encounters between the solar system and nearby stars and the effect of the tides from the Galaxy are key components. In my thesis, I explored the formation and dynamical evolution of comets, accounting for the effect of passing stars and the Galactic tidal field. I found that the solar system has constantly been perturbed by the tides of the Galaxy and passing stars leading to the formation of interstellar comets. This process also applies to other planetary systems with similar structures as the solar system. This implies that a considerable fraction of interstellar comets resides in the solar neighbourhood, and therefore the Sun and its neighbours share comets. Thus, I predict that an interstellar cloud of comets exists.