Scaling exponents and phase separation in a nonlinear network model inspired by the gravitational accretion

TL;DR

This paper investigates a nonlinear network model inspired by planetary formation, revealing phase separation into light and heavy condensates with scale-invariant properties and power-law distributions, aligning with observed planetary systems.

Contribution

It introduces a simplified nonlinear network model that captures key features of planetary system formation, including phase separation and scale-free distributions, matching real observations.

Findings

Light condensates follow power-law distributions with specific scaling exponents.

Heavy condensates exhibit scale-free properties.

Model predictions align with Solar System and exoplanet observations.

Abstract

We study dynamics and scaling exponents in a nonlinear network model inspired by the formation of planetary systems. Dynamics of this model leads to phase separation to two types of condensate, light and heavy, distinguished by how they scale with mass. Light condensate distributions obey power laws given in terms of several identified scaling exponents that do not depend on initial conditions. The analyzed properties of heavy condensates have been found to be scale-free. Calculated mass distributions agree well with more complex models, and fit observations of both our own Solar System, and the best observed extra-solar planetary systems.