We present deep imaging observations , orbital dynamics , and dust tail model analyses of the double-component asteroid P/2016 J1 ( J1-A and J1-B ) .
The observations were acquired at the Gran Telescopio Canarias ( GTC ) and the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope ( CFHT ) from mid March to late July , 2016 .
A statistical analysis of backward-in-time integrations of the orbits of a large sample of clone objects of P/2016 J1-A and J1-B shows that the minimum separation between them occurred most likely \sim 2300 days prior to the current perihelion passage , i.e. , during the previous orbit near perihelion .
This closest approach was probably linked to a fragmentation event of their parent body .
Monte Carlo dust tail models show that those two components became active simultaneously \sim 250 days before the current perihelion , with comparable maximum loss rates of \sim 0.7 kg s ^ { -1 } and \sim 0.5 kg s ^ { -1 } , and total ejected masses of 8 \times 10 ^ { 6 } kg and 6 \times 10 ^ { 6 } kg for fragments J1-A and J1-B , respectively .
In consequence , the fragmentation event and the present dust activity are unrelated .
The simultaneous activation times of the two components and the fact that the activity lasted 6 to 9 months or longer , strongly indicate ice sublimation as the most likely mechanism involved in the dust emission process .