High Velocity Dust Collisions: Forming Planetesimals in a Fragmentation Cascade with Final Accretion

TL;DR

This study experimentally investigates dust collisions at high velocities, showing that net growth of planetesimals is feasible through fragmentation and reaccretion, supporting a viable pathway for planet formation.

Contribution

It provides new experimental evidence on dust collision outcomes, demonstrating that decimetre-sized bodies can grow despite fragmentation, advancing understanding of planetesimal formation mechanisms.

Findings

Decimetre targets do not break up in collisions.

Sub-mm fragments are produced and can be reaccreted.

Net accretion is possible at collision velocities up to ~56.5 m/s.

Abstract

In laboratory experiments we determine the mass gain and loss in central collisions between cm to dm-size SiO2 dust targets and sub-mm to cm-size SiO2 dust projectiles of varying mass, size, shape, and at different collision velocities up to ~56.5 m/s. Dust projectiles much larger than 1 mm lead to a small amount of erosion of the target but decimetre targets do not break up. Collisions produce ejecta which are smaller than the incoming projectile. Projectiles smaller than 1 mm are accreted by a target even at the highest collision velocities. This implies that net accretion of decimetre and larger bodies is possible. Independent of the original size of a projectile considered, after several collisions all fragments will be of sub-mm size which might then be (re)-accreted in the next collision with a larger body. The experimental data suggest that collisional growth through fragmentation and reaccretion is a viable mechanism to form planetesimals.