IT05-2009-003331
Abstract Submitted
for the IT05 Meeting of
The American Physical Society
Sorting Category: 1.0 (T)
Planet Formation DANIEL STACK — The origin of the
Solar System remains one of the most fundamental questions still unanswered. Answering this question may allow us insight into where it is
we come from. Is the Solar System typical of most planetary systems?
Scientists do know some things about planet formation. Collisional Accumulation is a generally accepted theory among scientists for the formation of the terrestrial planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars).
However, scientists do not have a good answer as to how the gas and ice
giant planets have formed. There are two competing mechanisms from
which the giant planets may have formed. It is possible these planets
first formed a solid core by collisional accumulation and then accretion
of a gaseous envelope. This mechanism had been the favorite of most
scientists until recent discoveries of “Hot Jupiters.” This has fueled a
second theory which stems from gravitational instability of a gaseous
disk. Whatever the answer may be, it seems as though observations of
other planetary systems may be the easiest way to resolve this debate.
X
Prefer Oral Session
Prefer Poster Session
Date submitted: 15 Apr 2009
Daniel Stack
Daniel.Stack@stonybrook.edu
SUNY at Stony Brook
Electronic form version 1.4