Dust in brown dwarfs and extra-solar planets IV. Assessing TiO2 and SiO nucleation for cloud formation modeling

TL;DR

This study evaluates the nucleation processes of TiO2 and SiO in brown dwarf and exoplanet atmospheres, using updated thermodynamic data to improve cloud formation models and understand seed particle formation.

Contribution

It provides new thermodynamic data for (TiO2)_N-clusters and compares nucleation efficiencies of TiO2 and SiO in cloud formation modeling.

Findings

TiO2 remains more efficient than SiO in seed formation despite lower abundance.

Updated cluster data slightly affect TiO2 nucleation rates.

Switching to SiO nucleation significantly alters seed formation rates.

Abstract

Clouds form in atmospheres of brown dwarfs and planets. The cloud particle formation processes are similar to the dust formation process studied in circumstellar shells of AGB stars and in Supernovae. Cloud formation modelling in substellar objects requires gravitational settling and element replenishment in addition to element depletion. All processes depend on the local conditions, and a simultaneous treatment is required. We apply new material data in order to assess our cloud formation model results regarding the treatment of the formation of condensation seeds. We re-address the question of the primary nucleation species in view of new (TiO2)_N-cluster data and new SiO vapour pressure data. We apply the density functional theory using the computational chemistry package Gaussian 09 to derive updated thermodynamical data for (TiO2)_N-clusters as input for our TiO2 seed formation model. We test different nucleation treatments and their effect on the overall cloud structure by solving a system of dust moment equations and element conservation or a pre-scribed Drift-Phoenix atmosphere structure. Updated Gibbs free energies for the (TiO2)_N-clusters are presented, and a slightly temperature dependent surface tension for T=500 ... 2000K with an average value of sigma_infty = 480.6 erg 1/cm2. The TiO2-seed formation rate changes only slightly with the updated cluster data. A considerably larger effect on the rate of seed formation, and hence on grain size and dust number density, results from a switch to SiO-nucleation. Despite the higher abundance of SiO over TiO2 in the gas phase, TiO2 remains considerably more efficient in forming condensation seeds by homogeneous nucleation followed by heterogeneous grain growth. The paper discussed the effect on the cloud structure in more detail.