On the possible activation of quasi-Hilda comets by Jovian tides

Abstract

The quasi-Hilda comets are located in the outer main belt, near the 3:2 mean-motion resonance with Jupiter.This region hosts over 20 active quasi-Hilda comets, along with more than 50 candidates for comets withundetected activity. In this study, we explore the hypothesis that tidal stresses exerted during close encounterswith Jupiter, particularly when objects cross near or within the planet’s Roche limit, may contribute to theactivation of quasi-Hilda comets. Tidal disruption as a mechanism for activating dormant or weakly activenuclei has been proposed in other contexts, yet its role in quasi-Hilda evolution remains underexplored. Bynumerically integrating the orbits of known quasi-Hilda comets and identifying close approaches within 3Jupiter radii, we aim to assess whether such encounters correlate with the onset of observed activity. Ourfindings cannot outright reject the hypothesis that tidal effects may cause cometary activity in the QHCs,leaving it as a plausible mechanism.