EVENT DETAILS AND ABSTRACT

Title: Chaos in the Solar System
Speaker: Norm Murray
Speaker Info: University of Toronto
Brief Description:
Special Note: More current information may be available at Plan-it Purple
Abstract:

I will give a physical explanation of the resonant structure of planetary systems, and how it leads to the prediction that chaos should be generic in multiplanet systems. Using this picture, I will show how to calculate both Lyapunov time (the time over which information about the detailed dynamical state of the system is lost) and diffusion times for the actions (semimajor axis and angular momentum or eccentricity)of both asteroids and planets. The latter allows for the prediction of collision or ejection times for both asteroids and planets. As an example I will show why the giant planets in our solar system are chaotic, and when we can expect something dramatic to happen.