On the origin of the high-perihelion scattered disk: the role of the Kozai mechanism and mean motion resonances (Q1776096)

A large number of trans-Neptunian objects discovered since 1992 exhibit a very complex dynamical structure. Here the authors investigate a transfer process from the scattered disc (SD) to the high-perihelion scattered disc by means of two different models. Model 1 (the migration model) assumes that SD objects were formed closely to the Sun, and are driven outwards by resonant coupling with the accreting Neptune during the stage of outward migration. Model 2 (the observed population model) considers the observed population of SD objects plus clones that try to compensate for observational discovery bias. It is found that the known Kozai resonant mechanism (coupling among the perihelion, eccentricity, and inclination) associated with a mean motion resonance, is mainly responsible for growing both the perihelion distance and the inclination of SD objects. The results of investigations and some other results (there are 23 references) are discussed.