(Proposal ID) S17A-143

(PI) Lin, Hsing Wen

(Proposal Title)
[EAO Time] A search for the hypothetical vertical TNO/Centaur belt

(Abstract)
Based on a new retrograde and five known high-inclination Trans-Neptunian 
Objects (TNOs), our group (Chen et. al. 2016) found that these objects are 
moving in a common plane, with some orbiting prograde and the others orbiting 
retrograde. Based on our analysis, we proposed that there exists a nearly 
vertical belt of TNOs. However, the mechanism of this orbital arrangement is 
not yet known. The verification of our hypothesis and the identification of 
the mechanisms by which this population is formed and maintained requires 
additional observations and further theoretical investigation. Here we propose 
a 130 square degree HyperSuprime-Cam survey for high-inclination TNOs. Our 
survey will concentrate on high declinations, and we expect to discover 6 to 
28 high inclination TNOs. Combining our results with those of the HSC-SSP 
survey, we will have a deep, comprehensive survey with less instrumental bias 
and larger survey area.  We will be able to test the hypothetical vertical TNO 
belt and constrain several high-i TNO properties, i. e. luminosity function 
and total population estimation. This knowledge of high-i TNOs will support 
active research into the formation and dynamical evolution of the solar system.