Dynamics of planetesimals: The role of two-body relaxation

Abstract

In the standard scenario of planet formation, solid planets are formed through accretion of small bodies called planetesimals. The dynamics of planetesimals is important since it controls their growth mode and timescale. Here, I briefly explain the basic dynamics of planetesimals due to the two-body gravitational relaxation process. The important roles of two-body relaxation in a planetesimal system are viscous stirring and dynamical friction. Due to viscous stirring, the random velocities (eccentricities and inclinations) of planetesimals increase, while dynamical friction realizes the energy equipartition of the random energy. I also explain the orbital repulsion of protoplanets which is the coupling effect of two-body scattering and dynamical friction. © 2005 International Astronomical Union.