Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2006-01-05
Astrophys.J. 638 (2006) 1180-1186
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
ApJ 638, Feb. 20 in press
Scientific paper
10.1086/499032
In order to examine the ``giant impact hypothesis'' for the Moon formation, we run the first grid-based, high-resolution hydrodynamic simulations for an impact between proto-Earth and a proto-planet. The spatial resolution for the impact-generated disk is greatly improved from previous particle-based simulations. This allows us to explore fine structures of a circumterrestrial debris disk and its long-term evolution. We find that in order to form a debris disk from which a lunar-sized satellite can be accumulated, the impact must result in a disk of mostly liquid or solid debris, where pressure is not effective, well before the accumulation process starts. If the debris is dominated by vapor gas, strong spiral shocks are generated, and therefore the circumterrestrial disk cannot survive more than several days. This suggests that there could be an appropriate mass range for terrestrial planets to harbor a large moon as a result of giant impacts, since vaporization during an impact depends on the impact energy.
Kokubo Eiichiro
Makino Junichiro
Wada Keiichi
No associations
LandOfFree
High-Resolution Simulations of a Moon-Forming Impact and Post-Impact Evolution does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with High-Resolution Simulations of a Moon-Forming Impact and Post-Impact Evolution, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and High-Resolution Simulations of a Moon-Forming Impact and Post-Impact Evolution will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-590664