Physical effects of collisions in the Kuiper belt

Abstract

Collisions are a major modification process over the history of the Kuiper Belt. Recent work illuminates the complex array of possible outcomes of individual collisions onto porous, volatile bodies. The cumulative effects of such collisions on the surface features, composition, and internal structure of Kuiper Belt Objects are not yet known. In this chapter, we present the current state of knowledge of the physics of cratering and disruptive collisions in KBO analog materials. We summarize the evidence for a rich collisional history in the Kuiper Belt and present the range possible physical modifications on individual objects. The question of how well present day bodies represent primordial planetesimals can be addressed through future studies of the coupled physical and collisional evolution of Kuiper Belt Objects.

arXiv commentTo appear in The Solar System Beyond Neptune, published by Arizona Press

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Cited by in corpus (2)

• Variations on Debris Disks: Icy Planet Formation at 30-150 AU for 1-3 Solar Mass Main Sequence Stars
• On the Roles of Escape Erosion and the Relaxation of Craters on Pluto