Ice condensation as a planet formation mechanism

Abstract

Particles in protoplanetary discs grow rapidly to millimetre-sizes via coagulation, but further growth to centimetre-sized pebbles is not yet completely understood. We investigate particle growth by ice condensation in a model where we take the dynamical behaviour of vapour and ice particles into account, as well as the size evolution due to condensation and sublimation. Our results show that efficient growth from dust to pebbles is possible close to the water ice line at ~3 AU, with particles growing from millimetres to decimetres on a time scale of 10000 yr. Copyright © 2013, International Astronomical Union.