A research team from LMU (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München) has unveiled a groundbreaking model that sheds light on the formation of giant planets like Jupiter. This model offers a deeper understanding of planetary formation processes, potentially revolutionizing our knowledge of planetary systems.
A Fresh Look at Our Cosmic Neighborhood
Our solar system, our familiar cosmic vicinity, is well-mapped: starting with the Sun at its core, followed by the rocky planets Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. Next comes the asteroid belt, then the gas giants Jupiter and Saturn, the ice giants Uranus and Neptune, and finally, the Kuiper belt filled with comets.
Despite this detailed map, our understanding of planetary formation remains incomplete. Traditional theories suggested that giant planets formed through collisions and the accumulation of planetesimals, followed by gas accretion over millions of years. However, these theories fail to explain the existence of gas giants far from their stars or the formation of Uranus and Neptune.
From Dust Grains to Colossal Planets
Astrophysicists from LMU, the ORIGINS cluster, and MPS have developed a pioneering model that includes all essential physical processes in planet formation. Their model reveals that annular disturbances in protoplanetary disks, known as substructures, can rapidly trigger the formation of multiple gas giants. The findings align with recent observations, suggesting that giant planets can form more quickly and efficiently than previously believed.
The model illustrates how millimeter-sized dust particles accumulate in the turbulent gas disk. This initial disturbance traps dust, preventing it from drifting toward the star. This concentration of material creates optimal conditions for planet formation, allowing planets to grow rapidly within a compact area.
“When a planet grows large enough to affect the gas disk, it causes dust enrichment further out in the disk,” explains Til Birnstiel, Professor of Theoretical Astrophysics at LMU and ORIGINS Cluster member. “The planet drives the dust—like a sheepdog herding its flock—into the region beyond its orbit.” This process repeats from the inside out, enabling the formation of additional giant planets. “This is the first simulation to track the transformation of fine dust into giant planets,” notes Tommy Chi Ho Lau, lead author and doctoral candidate at LMU.
Diverse Gas Giants Across Solar Systems
In our solar system, gas giants range from around 5 astronomical units (au) (Jupiter) to 30 au (Neptune) from the Sun. For perspective, 1 au is the average distance between Earth and the Sun, approximately 150 million kilometers.
The study indicates that in other planetary systems, a similar disturbance could initiate planet formation at much greater distances and still occur rapidly. The ALMA radio observatory has frequently observed gas giants in young disks located over 200 au from their stars. The model also explains why no additional planets formed beyond Neptune in our solar system: the building material was exhausted.
The study’s results align with observations of young planetary systems, where pronounced substructures in their disks play an important role in planet formation. These findings suggest that giant planets and gas giants form more efficiently and swiftly than previously thought.
This new understanding could refine our knowledge of the origin and evolution of giant planets in our solar system and the diversity of planetary systems observed in the universe.
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