Formation and Evolution of Terrestrial Planets in Protoplanetary and Debris Disks

Abstract

This review discusses the properties of protoplanetary disks in the context of terrestrial planet formation, emphasising the general pattern of planet formation and evidence for similar patterns of evolution, and also for the diversity of starting points and hence probable conclusions. In addition, the process of terrestrial planet formation extends well beyond the protoplanetary stage, and produces disks of debris from the planetesimal collisions. The observed behaviour of these debris disks can test many hypotheses regarding the evolution of the Solar System. Debris disks also let us probe many different examples of how planetary systems generally like ours evolve (there are nearly 150 examples known within 50pc).