Vortices and Planetesimals

Abstract

How planetesimals form in a turbulent nebula is a key question for planetary formation. This paper investigates the interaction of the solid particles with the giant vortices, suspected to survive during many rotation periods in the protoplanetary disks. Such vortices could have an origin similar to that of the coherent structures of the 2D turbulence. It is found that these vortices can capture and concentrate large amounts of the solid particles. The strong efficiency of this mechanism make them the most favorable places where to form the planetesimals. A conclusion which holds even if their lifetime is assumed much shorter than expected.