2025/05/27 by Ito, Takashi, Malhotra, Renu · 1 citation
#Earth and Planetary Astrophysics (astro-ph.EP) #FOS: Physical sciences
paper · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2505.21821
Pluto's argument of perihelion is known to librate around 90^∘. This libration is related to the secular phenomenon known as the von Zeipel-Lidov-Kozai (vZLK) oscillation. In this work, we make a quantitative assessment of the influence of Neptune's mean motion resonance and of the other giant planets' secular perturbations on the libration of Pluto's argument of perihelion. Here, a parameter k2 = (1-e2) cos2 I is the key where e is eccentricity and I is inclination. When k2 of a Pluto-like object is larger than a certain critical value, libration of its argument of perihelion would not occur. The secular effect of other disturbing planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus) plays a significant role in determining the critical k2. The non-zero oscillation amplitude of the critical resonant argument also plays a role, although not a dominant one.