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N. Haghighipour (DTM/CIW)
The combined effect of gas drag and pressure gradients can cause small solids to rapidly migrate toward the location of a local maximum density in a gaseous nebula. The rates of such migrations depend on the sizes of objects and the physical properties of the gas, such as its density and temperature. For solids smaller than 1 m in size, the rates of radial and vertical migrations increase by increasing their sizes. Such rapid migrations cause solids to accumulate at the locations of density enhancements where they can collide and coalesce, and grow to bigger objects.
I will present the results of an extensive numerical study of the dynamics and growth of dust particles in the vicinity of a local maximum density of a gaseous nabula. Considering collision and assuming the sweeping of small particles by larger ones, I will show that the combined effect of gas drag and pressure gradients can substantially increase the rate of the growth of a micron-sized particle to a cm-sized object. I will also discuss the implications of the extension of this work to the study of collision and coagulation of cm-sized and larger objects, and the rate of formation of planetesimals.
Support for this work through NASA Origins program and NASA Astrobiology Institute (DTM/CIW) is greatly acknowledged.
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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 35 #4
© 2003. The American Astronomical Soceity.