Planet formation regulated by galactic-scale interstellar turbulence

Fuente: arXiv
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Autori principali: Winter, Andrew J., Benisty, Myriam, Andrews, Sean M.
Natura: Preprint
Pubblicazione: 2024
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author Winter, Andrew J.
Benisty, Myriam
Andrews, Sean M.
author_facet Winter, Andrew J.
Benisty, Myriam
Andrews, Sean M.
contents Planet formation occurs over a few Myr within protoplanetary discs of dust and gas, which are often assumed to evolve in isolation. However, extended gaseous structures have been uncovered around many protoplanetary discs, suggestive of late-stage in-fall from the interstellar medium (ISM). To quantify the prevalence of late-stage in-fall, we apply an excursion set formalism to track the local density and relative velocity of the ISM over the disc lifetime. We then combine the theoretical Bondi-Hoyle-Lyttleton (BHL) accretion rate with a simple disc evolution model, anchoring stellar accretion time-scales to observational constraints. Disc lifetimes, masses, stellar accretion rates and gaseous outer radii as a function of stellar mass and age are remarkably well-reproduced by our simple model that includes only ISM accretion. We estimate $20{-}70$ percent of discs may be mostly composed of material accreted in the most recent half of their lifetime, suggesting disc properties are not a direct test of isolated evolution models. Our calculations indicate that BHL accretion can also supply sufficient energy to drive turbulence in the outer regions of protoplanetary discs with viscous $α_\mathrm{SS} \sim 10^{-5}- 10^{-1}$, although we emphasise that angular momentum transport and particularly accretion onto the star may still be driven by internal processes. Our simple approach can be easily applied to semi-analytic models. Our results represent a compelling case for regulation of planet formation by large-scale turbulence, with broad consequences for planet formation theory. This possibility urgently motivates deep observational surveys to confirm or refute our findings.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2405_08451
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Planet formation regulated by galactic-scale interstellar turbulence
Winter, Andrew J.
Benisty, Myriam
Andrews, Sean M.
Earth and Planetary Astrophysics
Astrophysics of Galaxies
Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
Planet formation occurs over a few Myr within protoplanetary discs of dust and gas, which are often assumed to evolve in isolation. However, extended gaseous structures have been uncovered around many protoplanetary discs, suggestive of late-stage in-fall from the interstellar medium (ISM). To quantify the prevalence of late-stage in-fall, we apply an excursion set formalism to track the local density and relative velocity of the ISM over the disc lifetime. We then combine the theoretical Bondi-Hoyle-Lyttleton (BHL) accretion rate with a simple disc evolution model, anchoring stellar accretion time-scales to observational constraints. Disc lifetimes, masses, stellar accretion rates and gaseous outer radii as a function of stellar mass and age are remarkably well-reproduced by our simple model that includes only ISM accretion. We estimate $20{-}70$ percent of discs may be mostly composed of material accreted in the most recent half of their lifetime, suggesting disc properties are not a direct test of isolated evolution models. Our calculations indicate that BHL accretion can also supply sufficient energy to drive turbulence in the outer regions of protoplanetary discs with viscous $α_\mathrm{SS} \sim 10^{-5}- 10^{-1}$, although we emphasise that angular momentum transport and particularly accretion onto the star may still be driven by internal processes. Our simple approach can be easily applied to semi-analytic models. Our results represent a compelling case for regulation of planet formation by large-scale turbulence, with broad consequences for planet formation theory. This possibility urgently motivates deep observational surveys to confirm or refute our findings.
title Planet formation regulated by galactic-scale interstellar turbulence
topic Earth and Planetary Astrophysics
Astrophysics of Galaxies
Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2405.08451