Paper detail

The Formation of the Wide Asynchronous Binary Asteroid Population

We propose and analyze a new mechanism for the formation of the wide asynchronous binary population. These binary asteroids have wide semi-major axes relative to most near-Earth and Main Belt asteroid systems. Confirmed members have rapidly rotating primaries and satellites that are not tidally locked. Previously suggested formation mechanisms from impact ejecta, planetary flybys and directly from rotational fission events cannot satisfy all of the observations. The newly hypothesized mechanism works as follows: (i) these systems are formed from rotational fission, (ii) their satellites are tidally locked, (iii) their orbits are expanded by the BYORP effect, (iv) their satellites de-synchronize due to the adiabatic invariance between the libration of the secondary and the mutual orbit, and (v) the secondary avoids resynchronization due to the the YORP effect. This seemingly complex chain of events is a natural pathway for binaries with satellites that have particular shapes, which define the BYORP effect torque that acts on the system. After detailing the theory, we analyze each of the wide asynchronous binary members and candidates to assess their most likely formation mechanism. Finally, we suggest possible future observations to check and constrain our hypothesis.