Formation of Super-Earths and Mini-Neptunes from Rings of Planetesimals
The solar system's planetary architecture has been proposed to be consistent with the terrestrial and giant planets forming from material rings at ∼1 au and ∼5 au, respectively. Here, we show that super-Earths and mini-Neptunes may share a similar formation pathway. In our simulations conducted...
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IOP Publishing
2025-01-01
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| Series: | The Astrophysical Journal Letters |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/ada3d1 |
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| author | Sho Shibata Andre Izidoro |
| author_facet | Sho Shibata Andre Izidoro |
| author_sort | Sho Shibata |
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| description | The solar system's planetary architecture has been proposed to be consistent with the terrestrial and giant planets forming from material rings at ∼1 au and ∼5 au, respectively. Here, we show that super-Earths and mini-Neptunes may share a similar formation pathway. In our simulations conducted with a disk α -viscosity of 4 × 10 ^−3 , super-Earths accrete from rings of rocky material in the inner disk, growing predominantly via planetesimal accretion. Mini-Neptunes primarily originate from rings located beyond the water snowline, forming via pebble accretion. Our simulations broadly match the period-ratio distribution, the intrasystem size uniformity, and the planet multiplicity distribution of exoplanets. The radius valley constrains the typical total mass available for rocky planet formation to be less than 3–6 M _⊕ . Our results predict that planets at ∼1 au in systems with close-in super-Earths and mini-Neptunes are predominantly water-rich. Though relatively uncommon, at ∼1% level, such systems might also host rocky Earth-sized planets in the habitable zone that underwent late giant impacts, akin to the Moon-forming event. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4740642bfa2f453cb277c4aa2b220105 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2041-8205 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
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| series | The Astrophysical Journal Letters |
| spelling | doaj-art-4740642bfa2f453cb277c4aa2b2201052025-01-23T09:34:48ZengIOP PublishingThe Astrophysical Journal Letters2041-82052025-01-019792L2310.3847/2041-8213/ada3d1Formation of Super-Earths and Mini-Neptunes from Rings of PlanetesimalsSho Shibata0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5418-6336Andre Izidoro1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1878-0634Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences, MS 126, Rice University , Houston, TX 77005, USADepartment of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences, MS 126, Rice University , Houston, TX 77005, USAThe solar system's planetary architecture has been proposed to be consistent with the terrestrial and giant planets forming from material rings at ∼1 au and ∼5 au, respectively. Here, we show that super-Earths and mini-Neptunes may share a similar formation pathway. In our simulations conducted with a disk α -viscosity of 4 × 10 ^−3 , super-Earths accrete from rings of rocky material in the inner disk, growing predominantly via planetesimal accretion. Mini-Neptunes primarily originate from rings located beyond the water snowline, forming via pebble accretion. Our simulations broadly match the period-ratio distribution, the intrasystem size uniformity, and the planet multiplicity distribution of exoplanets. The radius valley constrains the typical total mass available for rocky planet formation to be less than 3–6 M _⊕ . Our results predict that planets at ∼1 au in systems with close-in super-Earths and mini-Neptunes are predominantly water-rich. Though relatively uncommon, at ∼1% level, such systems might also host rocky Earth-sized planets in the habitable zone that underwent late giant impacts, akin to the Moon-forming event.https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/ada3d1Exoplanet formationPlanet formationExoplanet atmospheresPlanetary migrationPlanetesimalsExoplanets |
| spellingShingle | Sho Shibata Andre Izidoro Formation of Super-Earths and Mini-Neptunes from Rings of Planetesimals The Astrophysical Journal Letters Exoplanet formation Planet formation Exoplanet atmospheres Planetary migration Planetesimals Exoplanets |
| title | Formation of Super-Earths and Mini-Neptunes from Rings of Planetesimals |
| title_full | Formation of Super-Earths and Mini-Neptunes from Rings of Planetesimals |
| title_fullStr | Formation of Super-Earths and Mini-Neptunes from Rings of Planetesimals |
| title_full_unstemmed | Formation of Super-Earths and Mini-Neptunes from Rings of Planetesimals |
| title_short | Formation of Super-Earths and Mini-Neptunes from Rings of Planetesimals |
| title_sort | formation of super earths and mini neptunes from rings of planetesimals |
| topic | Exoplanet formation Planet formation Exoplanet atmospheres Planetary migration Planetesimals Exoplanets |
| url | https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/ada3d1 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT shoshibata formationofsuperearthsandminineptunesfromringsofplanetesimals AT andreizidoro formationofsuperearthsandminineptunesfromringsofplanetesimals |