Evolution of primordial planets in relation to the cosmological origin of life

TL;DR

This paper discusses the formation and evolution of primordial planets in the early universe, proposing that their conditions could have supported the initial emergence of life within water-rich cores during planetary development.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed model of primordial planet formation and evolution within HGD cosmologies, linking planetary processes to the potential origins of life.

Findings

Primordial planets formed within trillion-planet clumps around 0.3 million years after the Big Bang.

Water-ice condensation occurs between 7 and 15 million years, creating potential habitats for life.

Organic molecules and material exchange could have facilitated the origin of life in primordial planetary water cores.

Abstract

We explore the conditions prevailing in primordial planets in the framework of the HGD cosmologies as discussed by Gibson and Schild. The initial stages of condensation of planet-mass H-4He gas clouds in trillion-planet clumps is set at 300,000 yr (0.3My) following the onset of plasma instabilities when ambient temperatures were >1000K. Eventual collapse of the planet-cloud into a solid structure takes place against the background of an expanding universe with declining ambient temperatures. Stars form from planet mergers within the clumps and die by supernovae on overeating of planets. For planets produced by stars, isothermal free fall collapse occurs initially via quasi equilibrium polytropes until opacity sets in due to molecule and dust formation. The contracting cooling cloud is a venue for molecule formation and the sequential condensation of solid particles, starting from mineral grains at high temperatures to ice particles at lower temperatures, water-ice becomes thermodynamically stable between 7 and 15 My after the initial onset of collapse, and contraction to form a solid icy core begins shortly thereafter. Primordial-clump-planets are separated by ~ 1000 AU, reflecting the high density of the universe at 30,000 yr. Exchanges of materials, organic molecules and evolving templates readily occur, providing optimal conditions for an initial origin of life in hot primordial gas planet water cores when adequately fertilized by stardust. The condensation of solid molecular hydrogen as an extended outer crust takes place much later in the collapse history of the protoplanet. When the object has shrunk to several times the radius of Jupiter, the hydrogen partial pressure exceeds the saturation vapour pressure of solid hydrogen at the ambient temperature and condensation occurs.