Direct Simulation of Planetary System Formation

湖，乔治华盛顿大学AST 99- 73209博士。莱克和奎因将直接模拟类地行星的形成，从一个3D的小行星盘，大小与小行星相当。 他们的模型将具有比以前的模拟更高的空间和时间分辨率，并将使用最先进的算法和处理。 通过这样的模拟，他们将解决有关行星系统形成的基本问题，其中包括原始质量分布，圆盘中径向混合的程度，小行星带质量耗尽的原因，月球由后期大规模撞击形成的可能性，以及巨行星在类地行星形成中的作用。

Lake, GeorgeUniversity of WashingtonAST 99-73209Drs. Lake and Quinn will directly simulate terrestrial planet formation from a 3D disk of planetesimals with sizes comparable to asteroids. Their models will have much greater spatial and temporal resolution than previous simulations and will use state of the art algorithms and processing. With such simulations, they will address fundamental questions regarding the formation of planetary systems, among them the primordial mass distribution, the extent of radial mixing in the disk, the cause of mass depletion in the asteroid belt, the likelihood that the Moon was formed by a late massive impact, and the role of giant planets in terrestrial planet formation.