Planetesimals to planets - Numerical simulation of collisional evolution

Abstract

In a simulation of collisional and gravitational interaction in the early solar system, planets of approximately 500 km diameter are generated from an initial swarm of kilometer-sized planetesimals. Collisions are treated in accordance with experimental and theoretical impact results (such as rebound, cratering, and catastrophic fragmentation) for a variety of materials whose parameters span plausible values for early solid objects. In this model, the small planets form in approximately 10,000 yr; during this time, most of the mass of the system continues to reside in particles near the original size. It is thought that the few 500-km planets may act as 'seeds' for the subsequent gradual accretional growth into full-sized planets.