RUI: Numerical Simulation of Collisional Dynamics in Planetary Systems

这个项目支持两名学生从事涉及碰撞动力学的行星系统的数值研究，主要是行星环动力学和行星形成，包括改进所使用的代码。本项目由本科院校研究（RUI）项目资助。在美国国家航空航天局（NASA）的支持下，首席研究员正在研究土星环系统的模拟和通用数据分析和可视化工具。这个附加价值项目将显著改善研究，并加强现有的合作，同时包括本科生参与行星科学的前沿项目。一名学生将组织和执行嵌入小卫星、环中的硅酸盐物质和土星F环的模拟，并分析结果。第二名学生将通过增强对吸积的支持来改进模拟代码，并为代码开发分析工具。他们的结果将有助于解释卡西尼号的观测结果，并提供对土星环系统的总体理解，同时也有助于了解行星吸积的早期阶段。与实验的比较将提高这些数值模型的准确性，并提高整个行星科学界可用工具的质量。学生们还将在每年的天文学会议和并行计算或模拟方法会议上展示他们的成果。

AST-0907972LewisThis project supports two students to work on numerical investigations of planetary systems involving collisional dynamics, primarily planetary ring dynamics and planetary formation, including enhancement of the codes used. This project is funded under the auspices of the Research in Undergraduate Institutions (RUI) program. The Principal Investigator is working on simulation of the Saturnian ring system and on a general data analysis and visualization tool, with support from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). This added-value project will significantly improve the research as well as strengthen the existing collaboration, while including undergraduate students on a cutting-edge project in planetary science.One student will work to organize and perform simulations of embedded moonlets, silicate material in the ring, and Saturn's F ring, and to analyze the results. The second student will work to improve the simulation code by enhancing support for accretion, and to develop analysis tools for the code. Their results will aid in interpreting Cassini observations and providing a general understanding of the Saturnian ring system, as well as helping to understand the early stages of planetary accretion. Comparison with experiments will enhance the accuracy of these numerical models, and improve the quality of the tools available to the whole planetary science community. The students will also present their results each year at an astronomy conference and at a conference on parallel computing or simulation methodologies.