The role of "planet traps" in solar system formation
Thursday, May 7, 2015 - 08:00
in Astronomy & Space
A team from the Astrophysics, Instrumentation and Modelling laboratory at Paris-Saclay (AIM – CNRS/CEA/Université Paris Diderot) has developed a new model that represents the evolution of protoplanetary disks over millions of years. These giant structures, composed of dust and gas, are thought to be the ideal place for planet formation due to the presence of what researchers call "planet traps". Scientists have been able to use this new model to detect the most favourable locations for forming planets. The research results will be published on-line in the Astronomy & Astrophysics journal on 6 May.