Binary Formation by Three-Body Collisions

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (11) References (13) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS Binary Formation by Three-Body Collisions Mansbach, Peter Abstract Keck's "variational method" is used to obtain an expression for the rate of formation of binaries due to stellar three-body collisions, under quite general conditions. In the solar neighborhood this rate is too small to account for any binaries. In globular clusters it could account for a few. The mass dependence and separation dependence of the three-body rate is also not in agreement with observations in the solar neighborhood, disproving the possibility that binaries were formed by this process but under different galactic circumstances. The general rate expression is also applicable to other problems, such as comet capture by a star or asteroid capture by a planet. An estimate of the latter, using available data, indicates that the rate is somewhat too low to account for Jupiter's outer moons if the third body is another asteroid. The third body might be a more massive satellite, however; this possibility is promising. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: April 1970 DOI: 10.1086/150412 Bibcode: 1970ApJ...160..135M full text sources ADS |