DPS Pasadena Meeting 2000, 23-27 October 2000
Session 31. Extra-Solar Planets
Oral, Chairs: W. Cochran, G. Wuchterl, Wednesday, 2000/10/25, 10:30am-12:10pm, Little Theater (C107)

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[31.01] Planet Formation in Binary Star Systems. I: New Symplectic Algorithms

E. V. Quintana (NASA Ames Research Center & University of Michigan, Ann Arbor), J.E. Chambers (NASA Ames Research Center & Armagh Observatory), M.J. Duncan (Queen's University), J.J. Lissauer (NASA Ames Research Center)

Mixed-variable symplectic integrators are used in many problems in Solar System dynamics. One problem which has not been examined using these integrators is planetary accretion in binary star systems. Here we will describe two new symplectic algorithms appropriate for this problem. One algorithm is appropriate for systems in which planets orbit one member of the binary, and the other is appropriate for cases in which the planets orbit both stars. Each algorithm works by introducing a new set of coordinates that makes use of the hierarchical nature of the systems.

To test the new algorithms, we are replicating the calculations of Wiegert & Holman (1997) on the stability of planets in the Alpha Cen system, and the calculations of Holman & Wiegert (1999) on planetary orbits in a wide variety of binary systems. Finally, we will compare the results of simulations of the formation of the terrestrial planets in the Sun-Jupiter "binary" system using the new binary algorithm with analogous calculations performed with the hybrid symplectic integrator of Chambers (1999).

This research is supported by NASA OSSRP Grant NAG5-9680.



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