Abstract
We describe the result of our numerical simulations that trace the
dynamical evolution of the Oort Cloud new comets that fall down to the
planetary region. These comets approach the planetary region (such as
inside Neptune’s orbit) through the galactic tide and encounter with
nearby stars, stay in the planetary region for a while, and eventually
get scattered away. We combine two dynamical models (analytic and
numerical) to follow the dynamical paths of the comets that leave the
Oort Cloud during two different periods: One is the 1 billion years that
include the present time when the outer comet cloud is likely nearly
isotropic, and the other is the 1 billion years in the early solar
system presumably with the comet cloud confined in a flat disk. Here are
two major conclusions derived from our numerical result: (1) Typical
dynamical lifetime of the comets is O(10^7) years. After traversing
the planetary region for this timespan, most of the comets get scattered
and ejected out of the system. (2) When orbital inclination of the
comets is small, the so-called planet barrier works effectively,
preventing the comets from penetrating into the terrestrial planetary
region. Transition probabilities of the comets into other minor body
populations, such as Centaurs or Jupiter-family comets, are also
discussed.