Can the giant planets of the Solar System form via pebble accretion in a smooth protoplanetary disc?

• Published in: Astronomy and astrophysics (Berlin) Vol. 683; p. A204
• Main Authors: Lau, Tommy Chi Ho, Lee, Man Hoi, Brasser, Ramon, Matsumura, Soko
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.03.2024
• ISSN: 0004-6361; 1432-0746
• DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/202347863

Context . Prevailing N -body planet formation models typically start with lunar-mass embryos and show a general trend of rapid migration of massive planetary cores to the inner Solar System in the absence of a migration trap. This setup cannot capture the evolution from a planetesimal to embryo, which is crucial to the final architecture of the system. Aims . We aim to model planet formation with planet migration starting with planetesimals of ~10 −6 −10 −4 M ⊕ and reproduce the giant planets of the Solar System. Methods . We simulated a population of 1000-5000 planetesimals in a smooth protoplanetary disc, which was evolved under the effects of their mutual gravity, pebble accretion, gas accretion, and planet migration, employing the parallelized N -body code SyMBAp. Results . We find that the dynamical interactions among growing planetesimals are vigorous and can halt pebble accretion for excited bodies. While a set of results without planet migration produces one to two gas giants and one to two ice giants beyond 6 au, massive planetary cores readily move to the inner Solar System once planet migration is in effect. Conclusions . Dynamical heating is important in a planetesimal disc and the reduced pebble encounter time should be considered in similar models. Planet migration remains a challenge to form cold giant planets in a smooth protoplanetary disc, which suggests an alternative mechanism is required to stop them at wide orbits.