Challenges of planet formation
BORIS DOI
Subtitle
insights from global modelling and population synthesis
Abstract
The confirmed existence of planets, both within our Solar System as well as around thousands of other stars, raises the fundamental question about how they form. This is not only a profound inquiry about our own origins but also an intriguing multi-disciplinary scientific problem. Our foundational understanding of planetary properties is driven by observations of Earth and its neighbours, as well as planets outside of the Solar System. It is the challenge of planet formation theory to make sense of the planets we see and their diverse characteristics. Addressing this requires identifying the key physical processes driving planet formation and understanding how these processes interplay to shape fundamental planetary properties, such as mass and orbital distance.
In this thesis, I use a global model of planet formation and evolution to examine two current areas of study in the planet formation community. First, I investigate the arising complexity due to two concurrently acting mechanisms for planets to grow, uncovering a strong influence on the formation of giant planets. In the second work, I revisit the long-standing conundrum of the formation of Uranus and Neptune, illustrating the extent of the problem and identifying the most promising formation scenario. Both studies highlight the complexity of planet formation, demonstrating the need for, and the value of, global models incorporating the most important physical processes.
In this thesis, I use a global model of planet formation and evolution to examine two current areas of study in the planet formation community. First, I investigate the arising complexity due to two concurrently acting mechanisms for planets to grow, uncovering a strong influence on the formation of giant planets. In the second work, I revisit the long-standing conundrum of the formation of Uranus and Neptune, illustrating the extent of the problem and identifying the most promising formation scenario. Both studies highlight the complexity of planet formation, demonstrating the need for, and the value of, global models incorporating the most important physical processes.
Date of Publication
2025
Year of graduation
2025
Theses Type
dissertation
Subject(s)
Language(s)
en
Author(s)
Kessler, Andrin |
Faculty/Graduate School
Institute
Access(Rights)
open.access
Primary OA Publication
true