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About me

Hello there!

Evgeny Smirnov

My name is Evgeny, and I’d like to welcome you to my personal website. Throughout my career, I’ve assumed a variety of positions and roles, which has nurtured my interest in a broad spectrum of areas. These include startups, scientific disciplines like astronomy, philosophy, and psychology, as well as management, business, and software development, among others.

Should you wish to connect with me, don’t hesitate to reach out through any of the social networks listed. I’m always excited to meet new people and explore fresh perspectives. While I have my specific areas of interest, I remain open to new opportunities and experiences.

For those who’d prefer a face-to-face conversation, I can often be found in Barcelona. Looking forward to crossing paths!

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My experience

(see LinkedIn Profile for the full version)

Additional experience

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My most important scientific papers

A systematic survey of von Zeipel–Lidov–Kozai resonances among trans-Neptunian objects: Empirical confirmation of the coupling with mean motion resonances

Evgeny Smirnov, Ivana Milić Žitnik Icarus V.455

doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2026.117101

abstract

The von Zeipel–Lidov–Kozai (ZLK) mechanism plays an important role in the long-term dynamical evolution of trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) subjected to planetary gravitational perturbations. Despite its theoretical significance, a systematic observational census of TNOs exhibiting clear ZLK dynamics has been lacking. We performed a comprehensive search for ZLK resonances among all 1,037 numbered objects from the AstDyS catalog with semimajor axes a > 30 au. Using numerical integrations spanning up to 300 Myr, we identify 81 objects (≈7.8% of the sample) that are trapped in ZLK resonance, with an additional 23 transient objects exhibiting alternating libration and circulation. A key finding is that all TNOs in ZLK resonance are simultaneously trapped in two-body mean motion resonances (MMRs) with Neptune, providing direct empirical confirmation of theoretical predictions. The most populated MMRs are 2N-3 (58 objects), 4N-7 (15 objects), 1N-2 (9 objects), and 3N-5 (7 objects). For non-1N-2 MMRs, libration centers cluster near 90° and 270°, while the 1N-2 resonance shows shifted centers at approximately 120°, 150°, 300°, and 330°. We identify several dynamically interesting objects in ZLKR, including the retrograde TNO (585899) 2020 HM98 in 2N+9 and the distant object (652920) 2014 GR53 in the high-order 1N-18 MMR, confirming that resonances of type 1:N and high-order MMRs can maintain ZLK dynamics at large heliocentric distances.

Evaluating multimodal commercial and open-source large language models for dynamical astronomy: a benchmark study of resonant behavior classification

Evgeny Smirnov, Valerio Carruba Scientific Reports V.16(1)

doi:10.1038/s41598-026-45926-y

abstract

We present a systematic evaluation of modern multimodal large language models (LLMs) for the classification of mean-motion and secular resonances from images of resonant arguments. Four benchmark datasets (RB-TEST, RB-PILOT, RB-SMALL, RB-FULL) were constructed to cover clear, ambiguous, and transient cases, with both binary and three-class outputs. Using standardized prompts (a full prompt for large models and a simplified variant for small models that cannot process complex instructions), we tested flagship commercial models, large open-source models, and small locally runnable models. Commercial LLMs reach F1=100% on simple cases and up to 94% on the three-class RB-SMALL dataset, while the best open-source models also reach 100% on unambiguous cases and 76% on the complex ones. On the full binary benchmark, open-source models approach commercial performance (F1≈90–96%). Most errors occur in transient and resonance-sticking regimes. The results show that LLMs can perform resonance classification at levels comparable to those of classical or machine-learning methods without training or fine-tuning, and that even small open-source models achieve practically useful accuracy. The released benchmarks establish a reproducible standard for evaluating LLMs on dynamical astronomy tasks.

Chaotic Diffusion and Transient Resonance Captures of the Near-Earth Asteroid 2024 YR₄

Evgeny A. Smirnov Astronomy & Astrophysics V.699(A26)

doi:10.1051/0004-6361/202554489

abstract

Near-Earth asteroid 2024 YR₄ is a dynamically interesting object due to its predicted close approach to Earth in 2032 and its potential previous residence in mean-motion resonances (MMRs). We investigated the previous resonant status of 2024 YR₄ through numerical integrations backward for 100,000 years using a statistical approach with 1,000 virtual asteroids within the initial uncertainties and employing the ias15 (modified Everhart) integrator. The statistical analysis revealed a probability for 2024 YR₄ of 72% to have been trapped in the 3J-1 resonance in its previous dynamical history, including the nominal orbit. The resonance sticking phenomenon is evident; the asteroid experienced multiple temporary captures in various resonances. Beyond the dominant 3J-1 MMR, 16% of the simulated cases show capture in the 1M-2 resonance and 12% in the 2M+3J-5 resonance, but these secondary captures typically persist for only 2,000–10,000 years. These findings agree with existing models of near-Earth asteroid production, where chaotic diffusion arising from overlapping mean-motion and secular resonances transports objects from the main belt into near-Earth orbits.

A highly resonant Neptunian region: A systematic search for two-body and three-body mean-motion resonances

Evgeny Smirnov Icarus V.436(115729)

doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2025.116584

abstract

In this study, a large-scale numerical investigation of resonant objects in the Neptune region is presented, focusing on both two-body and three-body mean-motion resonances (MMRs). Two separate simulations were conducted to identify resonant populations and quantify their prevalence. In Simulation 1, two-body MMRs with Uranus and Neptune up to the resonant order q≤10, as well as three-body MMRs involving both planets up to the order q≤6, were examined. Using automated resonance classification techniques, it was found that 42.1% of objects are resonant, increasing to 58.2% when including controversial cases. This is significantly higher than the resonant fraction observed in the main asteroid belt. The results confirm that two-body MMRs with Neptune dominate, with a smaller but significant fraction of three-body resonances and two-body resonances with Uranus. In Simulation 2, the analysis was extended to higher-order (q≤20) and high-integer-coefficient (mi≤50) two-body resonances with Neptune, testing whether previously classified non-resonant objects might belong to higher-order MMRs. This second simulation revealed an additional 108 resonances and 104 new confirmed resonant objects, bringing the total fraction of resonant asteroids in the region to 49.3% confirmed cases and 65.1% with controversial cases included. Many new two-body MMRs with Neptune are found. Notably, some objects were found to be trapped in multiple resonances simultaneously. These results demonstrate that MMRs play an important role in shaping the trans-Neptunian region, with an overall resonance fraction more than three times higher than in the main asteroid belt. All objects in this region may be in fact resonant.

Existential Concerns Arising From a Threat to the Belief in a Just World: A Mixed-Methods Study

Evgeny Smirnov, Maria Makarova Journal of Humanistic Psychology

doi:10.1177/00221678251322250

abstract

This paper studies the connection between existential concerns and the belief in a just world. We hypothesized that people who cannot cope with the threat to their belief in a just world will face existential concerns. To justify this hypothesis, we used a mixed-methods approach starting with a qualitative part and followed by a quantitative one. The qualitative part involved in-depth interviews with individuals (N=31, ~3.5h per interview) who have experienced situations perceived as unjust. The analysis of the interviews revealed that the experiences of unjust events actualize existential anxiety causing participants to confront existential problems arose. For the quantitative part we used the scales measuring existential concerns and the belief in a just world for several groups (500 participants in total) that had different strategies to cope with a critical event. The results demonstrated that participants facing threats to their belief in a just world had higher levels of existential anxiety. The effect size between the groups is large or medium depending on the scale.

A comparative analysis of machine learning classifiers in the classification of resonant asteroids

Evgeny Smirnov Icarus V.415

doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2024.116058

abstract

This study explores how well various machine learning classifiers can identify mean-motion resonances in the main belt using supervised learning. The most popular classifiers are assessed: k-Nearest Neighbours, Decision Tree, Gradient Boosting, AdaBoost, Random Forest, and Naïve Bayes. In contrast to previous studies that often relied on default ML configurations, this research conducts a detailed investigation, fine-tuning, and testing of each classifier across various parameters. The results show that simpler models, especially k-Nearest Neighbours and Decision Tree, perform better than more complex ones, particularly in terms of F1 scores. The paper provides guides on selecting features, parameters, and training set sizes for optimal classifier performance and outlines a method for developing effective machine-learning models for asteroid classification.

How do people experience innocent suffering?

Evgeny Smirnov Frontiers in Psychology V.14

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1148902

abstract

The paper examines the psychological facet of innocent suffering. One can find a description of this phenomenon in social psychology as a factor that affects the belief in a just world, but there is a lack of qualitative scientific data about related psychological features, processes, copings, and consequences on the personality level.

A new python package for identifying celestial bodies trapped in mean-motion resonances

Evgeny Smirnov Astronomy and Computing V.43(2)

doi:10.1016/j.ascom.2023.100707

abstract

In this paper, a new open-source package ‘resonances’ written in python is introduced. It allows to find, analyse, and plot two-body and three-body mean-motion eccentricity-type resonances in the Solar and other planetary systems. The package has a better accuracy of the automatic identification procedure for resonant objects compared to previous studies. Furthermore, it has built-in integrations with AstDyS and NASA JPL catalogues. The code is extensively documented and tested with automatic tests. The package is available on GitHub under MIT Licence.

Massive identification of asteroids in three-body resonances

Evgeny Smirnov, Ivan Shevchenko Icarus V.222(1)

doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2012.10.034

abstract

An essential role in the asteroidal dynamics is played by the mean motion resonances. Two-body planet-asteroid resonances are widely known, due to the Kirkwood gaps. Besides, so-called three-body mean motion resonances exist, in which an asteroid and two planets participate. Identification of asteroids in three-body (namely, Jupiter-Saturn-asteroid) resonances was initially accomplished by D.Nesvorny and A.Morbidelli (1998), who, by means of visual analysis of the time behaviour of resonant arguments, found 255 asteroids to reside in such resonances. We develop specialized algorithms and software for massive automatic identification of asteroids in the three-body, as well as two-body, resonances of arbitrary order, by means of automatic analysis of the time behaviour of resonant arguments. In the computation of orbits, all essential perturbations are taken into account. We integrate the asteroidal orbits on the time interval of 100000 yr and identify main-belt asteroids in the three-body Jupiter-Saturn-asteroid resonances up to the 6th order inclusive, and in the two-body Jupiter-asteroid resonances up to the 9th order inclusive, in the set of ~250000 objects from the "Asteroids - Dynamic Site" (AstDyS) database. The percentages of resonant objects, including extrapolations for higher-order resonances, are determined. In particular, the observed fraction of pure-resonant asteroids (those exhibiting resonant libration on the whole interval of integration) in the three-body resonances up to the 6th order inclusive is approximately 0.9% of the whole set; and, using a higher-order extrapolation, the actual total fraction of pure-resonant asteroids in the three-body resonances of all orders is estimated as approximately 1.1% of the whole set.

My pet open-source projects

  1. A scientific python package resonances that uses both traditional and machine-learning approaches to identify mean-motion resonances in planetary systems (see docs)
  2. Fast, fortran backed numerical integrator for N-body problem
  3. A machine-learning tool that categorise asteroids in the main belt in the Solar system into families (python)
  4. An old PHP library that converts dates into human readable format
  5. An old skeleton for Symfony projects