Mind the Trap: Non-negligible effect of volatile trapping in ice on C/O ratios in protoplanetary disks and exoplanetary atmospheres

Fuente: arXiv
Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ligterink, N. F. W., Kipfer, K. A., Gavino, S.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
Subjects:
Online Access:
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1866909230013874176
author Ligterink, N. F. W.
Kipfer, K. A.
Gavino, S.
author_facet Ligterink, N. F. W.
Kipfer, K. A.
Gavino, S.
contents The ability of bulk ices (H$_{2}$O, CO$_{2}$) to trap volatiles has been well studied in any experimental sense, but largely ignored in protoplanetary disk and planet formation models as well as the interpretation of their observations. We demonstrate the influence of volatile trapping on C/O ratios in planet-forming environments. We created a simple model of CO, CO$_{2}$, and H$_{2}$O snowlines in protoplanetary disks and calculated the C/O ratio at different radii and temperatures. We included a trapping factor, which partially inhibits the release of volatiles (CO, CO$_{2}$) at their snowline and releases them instead, together with the bulk ice species (H$_{2}$O, CO$_{2}$). Our aim has been to assess its influence on trapping solid-state and gas phase C/O ratios throughout planet-forming environments. Volatile trapping significantly affects C/O ratios in protoplanetary disks. Variations in the ratio are reduced and become more homogeneous throughout the disk when compared to models that do not include volatile trapping. Trapping reduces the proportion of volatiles in the gas and, as such, reduces the available carbon- and oxygen-bearing molecules for gaseous accretion to planetary atmospheres. Volatile trapping is expected to also affect the elemental hydrogen and nitrogen budgets. Volatile trapping is an overlooked, but important effect to consider when assessing the C/O ratios in protoplanetary disks and exoplanet atmospheres. Due to volatile trapping, exoplanets with stellar C/O have the possibility to be formed within the CO and CO$_{2}$ snowline.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2406_16029
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Mind the Trap: Non-negligible effect of volatile trapping in ice on C/O ratios in protoplanetary disks and exoplanetary atmospheres
Ligterink, N. F. W.
Kipfer, K. A.
Gavino, S.
Earth and Planetary Astrophysics
Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
The ability of bulk ices (H$_{2}$O, CO$_{2}$) to trap volatiles has been well studied in any experimental sense, but largely ignored in protoplanetary disk and planet formation models as well as the interpretation of their observations. We demonstrate the influence of volatile trapping on C/O ratios in planet-forming environments. We created a simple model of CO, CO$_{2}$, and H$_{2}$O snowlines in protoplanetary disks and calculated the C/O ratio at different radii and temperatures. We included a trapping factor, which partially inhibits the release of volatiles (CO, CO$_{2}$) at their snowline and releases them instead, together with the bulk ice species (H$_{2}$O, CO$_{2}$). Our aim has been to assess its influence on trapping solid-state and gas phase C/O ratios throughout planet-forming environments. Volatile trapping significantly affects C/O ratios in protoplanetary disks. Variations in the ratio are reduced and become more homogeneous throughout the disk when compared to models that do not include volatile trapping. Trapping reduces the proportion of volatiles in the gas and, as such, reduces the available carbon- and oxygen-bearing molecules for gaseous accretion to planetary atmospheres. Volatile trapping is expected to also affect the elemental hydrogen and nitrogen budgets. Volatile trapping is an overlooked, but important effect to consider when assessing the C/O ratios in protoplanetary disks and exoplanet atmospheres. Due to volatile trapping, exoplanets with stellar C/O have the possibility to be formed within the CO and CO$_{2}$ snowline.
title Mind the Trap: Non-negligible effect of volatile trapping in ice on C/O ratios in protoplanetary disks and exoplanetary atmospheres
topic Earth and Planetary Astrophysics
Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2406.16029