Revolution in astrophysics: New model for the formation of planets!

Revolution in astrophysics: New model for the formation of planets!

On July 21, 2025, a novel experiment will be presented that represents a significant advance in the study of planet formation. Scientists at the University of Greifswald have developed a water tornado model that simulates the complex processes in accretion disks surrounding young stars. These accretion disks play a crucial role in astrophysics, transporting matter to central objects and enabling the formation of planets.

In accretion disks, which consist of rotating gas and dust, microscopic particles orbit a central object that influences the surrounding area through its gravity. The gas in these disks contains atomic and ionized gases as well as interstellar dust. During the process, the central objects gain mass as some of the gas reaches the center of the disk. However, these dynamic processes are difficult to observe, which challenges research in astronomy.

The water tornado model

The newly developed water tornado model acts as a prototype for replicating the movements in planet-forming accretion disks. The scientists working with Mario Flock, who works at the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy (MPIA), have discovered that a simulation of the gravitational field conditions can be achieved by experimentally setting up two Plexiglas cylinders of different widths. This causes water to rotate, creating a funnel that mimics the properties of a protoplanetary disk.

Initial experiments with polypropylene spheres to analyze flow behavior showed that many of these spheres did not correspond to Kepler's first law, while other laws were reproduced well. These findings are promising as they could allow a better understanding of the physical properties of accretion disks.

Additional insights and challenges

The challenges in simulating accretion disks are significant. These disks can range in diameter from a few hundred astronomical units to hundreds of parsecs, and the matter can exceed the mass of the central object by 1-2 orders of magnitude. In addition, the thermal structure of these disks can reach millions of Kelvin, which further increases the complexity of the simulations.

The radiation profile of accretion disks, which is responsible for their brightness, is composed of radiation from many rings at different temperatures and ranges from infrared to hard X-rays. This makes it necessary to compare the simulations with real measurements to avoid potential computational artifacts.

The water tornado model could help alleviate some of these difficulties and is a promising approach to studying processes in planet-forming disks. Scientists hope to make adjustments to further improve accuracy, which could potentially have far-reaching implications for astronomy.

In addition to the researchers from the University of Greifswald, several scientists from the MPIA are also involved in this project. Mario Flock, who leads a working group at MPIA, received an ERC Consolidator Grant for a project to study emerging planetary systems, underscoring the importance of this research.

Further details on accretion disks and their properties can be found in the comprehensive reports from Cosmos Indirect as well as in the insights of University of Greifswald.