2023-11-12 18:09:23
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Research has gained new insight into planet formation. The James Webb telescope shows what happens in protoplanetary disks.
Washington DC – Science has a fairly sophisticated hypothesis regarding planet formation. Using the James Webb Telescope (JWST), scientists can now confirm a key aspect of this hypothesis. The JWST has detected significant amounts of cold water vapor in the inner region of protoplanetary disks. Experts conclude that ice-covered rock fragments that migrate inward from the outer regions of the disk are the “nucleus of planet formation.”
To understand how science comes to this conclusion, one must understand the theory of planet formation. It all has to do with a so-called protoplanetary disk orbiting a young star. It consists of rock fragments of various sizes that surround the star. Fragments located in the outer, more distant region of the disk are iced over. These icy fragments gradually move towards the star due to friction in the gas disk.
The James Webb Space Telescope has looked at the protoplanetary disks of several stars to find out more regarding how planets form. (Artist’s impression) © NASA, ESA, CSA, Joseph Olmsted (STScI)
Planets form from pieces of rock in protoplanetary disks
When the frozen rock fragments move beyond the so-called “snow line” and stay in warmer regions, their ice sublimates into water vapor and they release large amounts of it. This is exactly what the large space telescope operated by the space organizations Nasa, Esa and CSA observed.
“Webb has finally discovered the connection between the water vapor in the inner disk and the drift of ice chunks from the outer disk,” says study leader Andrea Banzatti from Texas State University. “This discovery opens exciting perspectives for studying the formation of rocky planets with ‘Webb’.” The results of the study were in the specialist journal The Astrophysical Journal Letters published.
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Previously, people had a static picture of planet formation
His co-author Colette Salyk (Vassar College) remembers in one notice of a “very static picture of planet formation” that existed for a long time. “It’s almost as if there were these isolated zones from which planets formed,” she explains. The researcher continues: “Now we actually have evidence that these zones can interact with each other. This is something that is also said to have taken place in our solar system.” (tab)
Machine assistance was used for this article written by the editorial team. The article was carefully checked by editor Tanja Banner before publication.
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