Study of the environment and interactions in small solar system bodies – ROCHE

The small bodies of the Solar System are primordial bricks of the formation of our planetary system. For the last decade, Earth-ground, space and in-situ observations have opened a golden age for their study, motivated by the need to understand these witnesses of the first ages of the Solar System and by the unexpected discovery of rings. These primitive bodies have evolved since their formation. In order to make the link between current observations and the origin of the Solar System, this project aims to develop detailed and varied 3D models of the internal structure and shape of asteroids (mainly binaries) as well as large TNOs. The goal will then be to study the link between formation and evolution of these protoplanets, in particular through an accurate modeling of dissipative effects for the case of binary systems. A particular attention will be paid to the introduction of tides in small bodies and the Didmos-Dimorphos system targeted by DART (NASA) and HERA (ESA). Finally, the discovered rings are surprising by their existence but in addition, one of the rings is located beyond the Roche limit where the ring should accrete into a satellite. This project will therefore address these issues. An emblematic case will be the study of Haumea which offers the possibility to study processes such as differentiation, collision, and ring formation. In the case of NEOs, knowledge of the internal structure will also provide information for planetary defense.