Planetesimal formation: numerical modeling of particle growth, settling, and collective gas-grain interactions

Add to your list(s) Download to your calendar using vCal

• Weidenschilling, S (Planetary Science Institute)
• Tuesday 29 September 2009, 09:00-10:00
• Seminar Room 1, Newton Institute.

If you have a question about this talk, please contact Mustapha Amrani.

Dynamics of Discs and Planets

In a relatively quiescent solar nebula, solid particles settle to form a dense layer in the midplane. The density of this layer is set by a balance between settling and diffusion caused by shear-generated turbulence. I present results of a numerical model for the equilibrium structure of a layer of particles of arbitrary size or a mixture of sizes. Radial drift rates and relative velocities are computed. Another model includes coagulation of particles throughout the thickness of the nebula; it is used to determine timescales for growth of aggregates and their settling, and the range of impact strength necessary for the production of macroscopic bodies by collisional sticking. Finally, a model for gravitational coagulation of bodies in Keplerian orbits is used to infer consequences of initial planetesimal sizes for accretion of planetary embryos.

This talk is part of the Isaac Newton Institute Seminar Series series.

This talk is included in these lists:

• All CMS events
• Featured lists
• INI info aggregator
• Isaac Newton Institute Seminar Series
• School of Physical Sciences
• Seminar Room 1, Newton Institute
• bld31

Note that ex-directory lists are not shown.