Formation and evolution of ring structures around small bodies in the Solar System: application to Centaurs.

• Grant number: 24/20150-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: May 01, 2025
• End date: August 31, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Astronomy - Solar System Astronomy
• Principal Investigator: Rafael Sfair de Oliveira
• Grantee: Giovana Ramon Luiz Neto
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia (FEG). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Guaratinguetá. Guaratinguetá , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Recent advances in observational astronomy have enabled a detailed study ofsmall bodies in the Solar System, including Centaurs, Trans-Neptunian Objects (TNOs),and dwarf planets. Stellar occultations have revealed ring systems around bodiessuch as Chariklo, Haumea, and Quaoar, challenging our understanding of these distantobjects. While planetary rings have been extensively studied, the mechanisms behindthe formation and stability of rings around small bodies remain largely unexplored.This project aims to investigate the formation and evolution of ring structuresaround small Solar System bodies, with a primary focus on Chiron. We will employstate-of-the-art computational methods, including N-body and Smoothed ParticleHydrodynamics (SPH) simulations, to model ring formation, analyze their evolution,and explore potential confinement mechanisms.Chiron, a unique Centaur exhibiting both potential ring structures and cometaryactivity, is as an ideal natural laboratory for studying complex dynamicalprocesses. By focusing on this intriguing object, we aim to shed light on thedynamics and evolution of the outer Solar System, as well as the fundamentalprocesses governing ring formation and evoluntion in low-gravity environments.