Vertical shear instability in the solar nebula

TL;DR

This paper investigates the conditions under which vertical shear instability can occur in the solar nebula and assesses its potential role in generating turbulence in protoplanetary disks.

Contribution

It provides a quantitative analysis of the thermodynamic criteria for vertical shear instability and evaluates its significance in realistic disk environments.

Findings

Vertical shear instability can be thermodynamically feasible in protoplanetary disks.

The instability may contribute to turbulence in the solar nebula.

Thermodynamic conditions are critical for the onset of the instability.

Abstract

We quantify the thermodynamic requirement for the Vertical Shear Instability and evaluate its relevance to realistic protoplanetary disks as a potential route to hydrodynamic turbulence.