Planetary Lunch Series (PLS) – Dr. Sarah Morrison (Missouri State U)

Title: Forming Inner Planets in the Presence of Outer Massive Planets

Abstract: In our Solar system, the presence of Jupiter played a role in shaping the history of the formation and evolution of the inner Solar system planets. In this talk, I will discuss plausible formation scenarios that produce the observed characteristics of the most common types of inner planets in planetary systems, super-Earths and mini-Neptunes, including the subset of these planet populations that are in chains of resonances with their planetary neighbors. From numerical simulations of planetary embryos colliding and merging in their residual protoplanetary disks, I will show what conditions during that phase of planet formation are conducive to forming planet populations with observationally consistent orbit and mass/size distributions. I will also discuss how an outer Jupiter-like planet can influence this process, and share results of the kinds of planetary outcomes that arise in systems with and without a Jupiter-like planet with inner disk conditions capable of producing observed exoplanet populations.

About this Series: The MIT Planetary Lunch Seminar [PLS] is a weekly seminar series organized within the EAPS department. Colloquia topics span the range of research interests of the department’s planetary sciences research program. The seminars take place on Tuesdays from 12:15–1:30 pm, unless otherwise noted (term-time only). Speakers include members of the MIT community and visitors. Talks are intended to appeal to graduate students, postdocs, research scientists, and faculty with a background in planetary science. For more information and Zoom password contact: planetary-org@mit.edu.