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| Format: | Preprint |
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2026
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| Online-Zugang: | https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.11819 |
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| _version_ | 1866910211788242944 |
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| author | Kurosaki, Kenji Arakawa, Masahiko |
| author_facet | Kurosaki, Kenji Arakawa, Masahiko |
| contents | Rubble-pile asteroids can form through the self-gravitational reaccumulation of fragments produced during large-scale collisions. To investigate how differentiated bodies are disrupted and how iron-rich rubble piles may form, we performed smoothed particle hydrodynamics simulations of impacts between differentiated asteroids with molten or solidified interiors. Our results show that catastrophic disruption produces a sheet-like structure in which core and mantle materials are stretched and subsequently fragment under self-gravity. The resulting fragments exhibit nearly identical iron-rock mass ratios, indicating that catastrophic disruption naturally generates numerous compositionally similar fragments. The largest remnant formed in such events is therefore an iron-rich rubble pile assembled from these mixed fragments, whereas remnants formed through mantle stripping retain a layered structure with an iron core and rocky mantle. We further find that fragment production is sensitive to material strength and the equation of state: mantle strength reduces the number of small fragments, while core strength suppresses catastrophic disruption when the core is solid. These results imply that iron-rich rubble-pile asteroids can form only when the iron core is molten. Our findings provide a unified framework for the formation of metal-rich asteroids such as (16) Psyche and the (22) Kalliope system, and offer predictions for the surface and internal structure that the NASA Psyche mission may test. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2605_11819 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Reaccumulation process after a catastrophic disruption event on a differentiated asteroid Kurosaki, Kenji Arakawa, Masahiko Earth and Planetary Astrophysics Rubble-pile asteroids can form through the self-gravitational reaccumulation of fragments produced during large-scale collisions. To investigate how differentiated bodies are disrupted and how iron-rich rubble piles may form, we performed smoothed particle hydrodynamics simulations of impacts between differentiated asteroids with molten or solidified interiors. Our results show that catastrophic disruption produces a sheet-like structure in which core and mantle materials are stretched and subsequently fragment under self-gravity. The resulting fragments exhibit nearly identical iron-rock mass ratios, indicating that catastrophic disruption naturally generates numerous compositionally similar fragments. The largest remnant formed in such events is therefore an iron-rich rubble pile assembled from these mixed fragments, whereas remnants formed through mantle stripping retain a layered structure with an iron core and rocky mantle. We further find that fragment production is sensitive to material strength and the equation of state: mantle strength reduces the number of small fragments, while core strength suppresses catastrophic disruption when the core is solid. These results imply that iron-rich rubble-pile asteroids can form only when the iron core is molten. Our findings provide a unified framework for the formation of metal-rich asteroids such as (16) Psyche and the (22) Kalliope system, and offer predictions for the surface and internal structure that the NASA Psyche mission may test. |
| title | Reaccumulation process after a catastrophic disruption event on a differentiated asteroid |
| topic | Earth and Planetary Astrophysics |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.11819 |