Planetary accretion rates - Analytical derivation

Abstract

New analytical formulae that are valid even in cases where Keplerian shear determines the approach velocity in planetary accretion rates are presently shown to accurately reproduce Monte Carlo study results. The formulae yield accretion rates over a great variety of planet formation-conducive conditions. Since the absolute values of impact rates yielded by the formulae were expected to have factor-of-2-to-3 uncertainties, the good agreement with Monte Carlo experiments obtained suggests the reasonableness of many of the estimates adopted, or the mutual cancelling-out of various uncertainties.