Anders Johansen (University of Copenhagen and Lund University)
Abstract:
I will give an overview of theoretical models of planet formation with particular emphasis on the formation of habitable planets. Planets form in protoplanetary discs of gas and dust that orbit around young stars. Observations with ALMA and VLA constrain well the initial budget of the planetary building material. Experiments show that the growth of dust aggregates stalls at pebble sizes due to fragmenting collisions. Luckily, these pebbles drive both the formation of planetesimals by the streaming instability and planetary growth by pebble accretion. Giant impacts between protoplanets also play an important role in shaping the planetary architecture. Finally, I will discuss the delivery of volatiles to planets in the habitable zone by both pebbles and impacts.
Biography: Anders Johansen is a professor of astronomy and planetary sciences at University of Copenhagen and Lund University. His research uses computer simulations to understand how planets form from dust and gas in protoplanetary disks.
