The primordial sculpting of the Kuiper belt

Understanding how the Kuiper belt acquired its puzzling present orbital structure will provide insight into the formation of the outer planetary system and on its early evolution. We outline a scenario of primordial sculpting – issued from a combination of mechanisms proposed by various authors – that seems to explain most of the observed properties of the Kuiper belt. Several aspects are not yet totally clear, and some may not be totally correct. But, for the first time, we have a view – if not of the detailed sculpture – at least of its rough cast. To cite this article: A. Morbidelli, H.F. Levison, C. R. Physique 4 (2003).