Publications - Matthew Tiscareno - Page 1

We carried out extensive numerical orbit integrations to probe the long-term chaotic dynamics of the 2 3 Plutinos and 1 2 Twotinos mean motion resonances with Neptune We derive maps of resonance stability measured both by time-averaged particle density and by mean dynamical diffusion rate and investigate the effects of a massive perturber embedded in the resonance We also investigate the population of Resonant Kuiper Belt Objects at 4 Gyr ago compared to the present and discuss the implications for theories of Kuiper Belt origins We have numerically investigated the long term dynamical behavior of known Centaurs We find that their orbital evolution is characterized by frequent close encounters with the giant planets with no significant long-term resonant behavior Most of these Centaurs will escape from the inner solar system while a fraction will enter the Jupiter-family comet JFC population and a few percent will impact a giant planet We discuss the implications of our study for the spatial distribution of the actual Centaur population Using numerical and analytical models we investigate the ejection of water molecules from Europa s surface by sputtering the subsequent evolution of their ballistic trajectories and their re-deposition onto the surface as a water frost We conclude that net deposition does occur under certain conditions making sputtering erosion and re-deposition a plausible explanation for the observed color dichotomy between Europa s leading and trailing hemispheres During Cassini s approach to Jupiter a series of images was taken to search for any undiscovered satellites of Jupiter Our analysis of these images indicates that no undiscovered satellites exist between 2 6 and 20 R J with inclination i 1 6 eccentricity e 0 0002 diameter D 15 km and albedo A 0 1

Matthew Tiscareno

Senior Research Scientist

Chaotic diffusion in the outer solar system, and other topics