Star Cluster Dynamics Influence Asteroid Capture and Oort Cloud Formation

This paper investigates the influence of cluster environments on asteroids, with special attention towards captured material. Using numerical methods, a sub-virial fractally distributed star-forming region and a virialised Plummer distributed star-forming region are simulated. Both models are initialised with a virial radius of 0.5pc and 150 stars. Stellar populations and their corresponding planetary systems are identical between cluster models. Stars initially host 500 asteroids and those with mass M_* <= 2.0 MSun are also orbited by 1 - 8 planets. Clusters are integrated until 30 Myr. The sub-virial fractal cluster exhibits richer dynamics, with asteroids and planets more frequently acquiring high eccentricities and inclinations, along with a larger fraction of captured and rogue objects. Additionally, this cluster configuration has its extreme trans-Neptunian object and Sednoid analogues occupy regions of phase-space in semi-major axis, eccentricity and inclination commonly frequented by captured asteroids. Although the virialised Plummer model can produce such objects, by being less dynamically active, the vast majority of asteroids occupying these regions are native rather than captured. Lastly, neither model efficiently form an Oort Cloud, indicating that Oort Cloud assembly is strongly suppressed in both dynamically hot and more quiescent clusters. This research provides insights into the complex dynamics of star clusters and their impact on the distribution of asteroids and the formation of the Oort cloud.

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