Abstract
In this Letter, we answer a simple question: Can a misaligned circumbinary planet induce Kozai-Lidov cycles on an inner stellar binary? We use known analytic equations to analyse the behaviour of the Kozai-Lidov effect as the outer mass is made small. We demonstrate a significant departure from the traditional symmetry, critical angles and amplitude of the effect. Aside from massive planets on near-polar orbits, circumbinary planetary systems are devoid of Kozai-Lidov cycles. This has positive implications for the existence of highly misaligned circumbinary planets: an observationally unexplored and theoretically important parameter space.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | L46-L50 |
Journal | Royal Astronomical Society. Monthly Notices |
Volume | 455 |
Early online date | 27 Oct 2015 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 2016 |
Keywords
- methods: analytical, celestial mechanics, planets and satellites: dynamical evolution and stability, binaries: close