James Webb Space Telescope Confirms 'Icy Pebble Drift' Theory in Planet Formation
Observations reveal more water vapor in compact protoplanetary disks, supporting the theory that icy pebbles drift from outer to inner regions, contributing to planet formation.
- The James Webb Space Telescope has confirmed the 'Icy Pebble Drift' theory in planet formation, which suggests that icy pebbles drift from the outer regions of protoplanetary disks into the rocky-planet zone, contributing to the formation of planets.
- The telescope observed water vapor in protoplanetary disks, supporting the theory that as these icy pebbles enter the warmer region within the 'snowline', they release large amounts of cold water vapor.
- The researchers used Webb's Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) to study four disks around Sun-like stars, revealing excess cool water in the compact disks compared to the large disks, which supports the theory of efficient pebble drift in compact disks.
- The study also found that pebbles tend to collect at pressure bumps, impeding their drift. This phenomenon is observed in large disks with rings and gaps, suggesting that large planets may cause these rings of increased pressure.
- The findings open up new prospects for studying rocky planet formation and provide evidence that zones within protoplanetary disks can interact with each other, a process proposed to have occurred in our solar system.
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