Abstract
We report the results of an N-body simulation with 100 stars in the solar neighbourhood and 400 Oort cloud bodies to determine the internal structure and stability of the Oort cloud and to show various physical processes revealing the formation of comets from the Oort cloud. Effects due to Jupiter and Saturn as well as local vertical oscillation of the Solar system within the galactic disc are also included. We follow the evolution of the Oort cloud and the stars for 1.6 × 108 yr, both with and without the planets. We reproduce the shape of the observed 1/a distribution for the comets. We determine the evolution of the number density of the cloud. The perturbation due to the planets causes fluctuation in the number density at both the inner and the outer edges of the Oort cloud. The stellar encounter also causes some fluctuation, mostly at the outer edge. In general, the Oort cloud appears to be very stable under stellar perturbations, with a half-life well beyond 3 million years. We obtain the energy transport rate to the clouds. This result agrees well with existing analytical results.
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