From disks to planets: end-to-end modelling of the planet formation process

从圆盘到行星：行星形成过程的端到端建模

• 批准号: 355394-2008
• 负责人: Thommes, Edward
• 金额: $ 1.22万
• 依托单位: University of Guelph
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2008
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2008-01-01 至 2009-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=402507
• 关键词: disks; planets; end; modelling; planet

Human beings have long been occupied with the question of how planetary systems form and evolve. The answer is central to placing ourselves in context within the Universe, to the search for other habitable worlds, and ultimately, to the search for other life. Though more than 250 planets have been detected around other stars over the past decade, our knowledge of how both they and our own Solar System came to be is still very incomplete. Using a new hybrid computer code developed by the principal investigator, it is for the first time possible to perform an end-to-end simulation of the entire formation process---in essence, of how a disk around a young star converts itself into planets. This code combines the speed of an ``N-body" scheme optimized for planetary systems (based on the existing SyMBA package) with a one-dimensional implementation of a protostellar disk (which represents the disk as made up of nested rings). These two parts are coupled using standard prescriptions for (i) the dynamical interaction of a planet with a disk, and (ii) the rate at which a planet grows its atmosphere by gravitationally pulling in gas from the disk. With this computer code as the primary tool, the research proposed here is aimed at advancing our understanding of planet formation. A series of key additions and enhancements will be made to the code over time, each allowing a new aspect of the planet formation process to be studied. At the same time, the high speed of the code---several days to simulate the several-million-year lifespan of a protostellar gas disk---will be maintained. It is intended that three summer students, three graduate students and one postdoctoral researcher will be trained/employed over the course of the project. At the end of the funding period, the finished, fully documented and rigorously tested code will be made freely available to the public.

长期以来，人类一直在思考行星系统是如何形成和演化的。 这个答案对于将我们自己置于宇宙的背景中，寻找其他可居住的世界，最终寻找其他生命至关重要。 虽然在过去的十年里，已经发现了250多颗行星围绕着其他恒星，但我们对它们和我们自己的太阳系是如何形成的知识仍然非常不完整。 利用首席研究员开发的一种新的混合计算机代码，第一次有可能对整个形成过程进行端到端的模拟-本质上，围绕年轻星星的圆盘如何将自己转化为行星。 该代码结合了为行星系统优化的“N体”方案（基于现有的SyMBA软件包）的速度和原恒星盘的一维实现（将盘表示为由嵌套环组成）。 这两个部分是耦合使用标准处方（i）行星与磁盘的动力学相互作用，以及（ii）行星通过引力从磁盘中吸入气体而增加其大气层的速率。 以这种计算机代码为主要工具，这里提出的研究旨在推进我们对行星形成的理解。 随着时间的推移，将对代码进行一系列关键的添加和增强，每一个都允许研究行星形成过程的一个新方面。 与此同时，代码的高速-几天来模拟原恒星气体盘的几百万年寿命-将得到保持。 计划在项目期间培训/雇用三名暑期学生、三名研究生和一名博士后研究员。 在资助期结束时，完成的，完整的文档和严格测试的代码将免费提供给公众。