Gas- and dust evolution in protoplanetary disks

TL;DR

This study enhances models of dust and gas evolution in protoplanetary disks by incorporating time-dependent gas dynamics and advanced physics, revealing key factors influencing dust growth and barriers to planet formation.

Contribution

The paper introduces an improved model that includes viscous gas evolution and advanced physics, providing deeper insights into dust growth and transport in disks.

Findings

Gas surface density and zonal flows aid in overcoming the meter-size barrier.

Turbulence significantly hinders grain growth beyond meter size.

Initial conditions and disk build-up have less impact than physical processes.

Abstract

Context. Current models of the size- and radial evolution of dust in protoplanetary disks generally oversimplify either the radial evolution of the disk (by focussing at one single radius or by using steady state disk models) or they assume particle growth to proceed monodispersely or without fragmentation. Further studies of protoplanetary disks - such as observations, disk chemistry and structure calculations or planet population synthesis models - depend on the distribution of dust as a function of grain size and radial position in the disk. Aims. We attempt to improve upon current models to be able to investigate how the initial conditions, the build-up phase, and the evolution of the protoplanetary disk influence growth and transport of dust. Methods. We introduce a new version of the model of Brauer et al. (2008) in which we now include the time-dependent viscous evolution of the gas disk, and in which more advanced input physics and numerical integration methods are implemented. Results. We show that grain properties, the gas pressure gradient, and the amount of turbulence are much more influencing the evolution of dust than the initial conditions or the build-up phase of the protoplanetary disk. We quantify which conditions or environments are favorable for growth beyond the meter size barrier. High gas surface densities or zonal flows may help to overcome the problem of radial drift, however already a small amount of turbulence poses a much stronger obstacle for grain growth.