Rapid Growth of Asteroids Owing to Very Sticky Interstellar Organic Grains

Abstract

We experimentally found interstellar grains covered with organic matter in an asteroid belt, and more importantly, the organic matter played an essential role in the formation of the asteroids. The sticking threshold velocity of 5 m s-1 of the millimeter-sized organic grains was several orders of magnitude higher than those of the coexisting silicate and ice grains. This indicated a very rapid coagulation of the very sticky organic grain aggregates and the formation of planetesimals in the asteroid region, covering even the early stage of the turbulent solar nebula. In contrast, there was no coagulation of the silicate and ice grains in the terrestrial and Jovian regions, respectively.