Recent simulations conducted by astrophysicists Adam Fenton and Dimitris Stamatellos from the University of Central Lancashire have challenged our traditional understanding of planet formation. Instead of envisioning planets as neat spheres, these simulations depict large planets forming as flattened disks, resembling fluffy pancakes or M&M candies, before eventually evolving into their familiar spherical shapes like Jupiter or gobstoppers.
The revelation sheds new light on the diverse mechanisms involved in planetary growth within the turbulent disks of dust and gas surrounding young stars. Stamatellos expressed surprise at the findings, noting that previous assumptions had always assumed spherical planet formation, making the discovery of oblate spheroids akin to smarties quite unexpected.
While over 5,500 planets have been confirmed within the Milky Way, the exact process of their formation remains elusive. When a star forms from a dense cloud of gas and dust, a rotating disk of material is left over, giving rise to planets, comets, asteroids, and moons. Understanding how these materials coalesce is crucial, and the traditional model of accretion from smaller rocky chunks has limitations in explaining certain planetary characteristics.
To delve deeper into disk instability planet formation, Fenton conducted complex simulations, exploring various factors such as gas density, temperature, and disk velocity. The results, obtained through extensive computational efforts, revealed that gas giant protoplanets initially adopt a flattened shape due to centrifugal forces and material accumulation predominantly at the poles.
While the implications for the core accretion model remain unclear, the study underscores the importance of interpreting developing planets accurately, particularly as our ability to detect them improves. Recognizing the pancake-shaped protoplanets from different viewing angles is essential for refining our understanding of planetary formation processes.
This groundbreaking research, accepted into Astronomy & Astrophysics Letters and available on arXiv, marks a significant advancement in our comprehension of the intricate dynamics involved in the formation of celestial bodies within stellar disks.
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Reference: https://www.sciencealert.com/earth-isnt-flat-but-new-theory-suggests-jupiter-might-once-have-been
