Corotation resonances and planetary formation

Trapping of planetesimals into corotation resonance with a proto-planet may have played an important role in the accretion of m-km-sized bodies during the Solar System formation. We study this process by comparing the numerical equilibrium points with the analytical ones, obtained from Lagrange’s equations. a variable model for the drag force, a great number of numerical integrations is done for groups of 100 planetesimals. These simulations allowed us to find two new classes of resonances: secular libration and extended corotation. e study the dynamics of interaction among the trapped planetesimals in corotation resonances considering their mutual gravitational masses. Finally we discuss the role that corotation resonance trapping may have played in the accretion mechanism of a forming planetary system.