Dawes Review. The tidal downsizing hypothesis of planet formation

TL;DR

Tidal Downsizing offers a comprehensive model of planet formation that explains various exoplanet and debris disc observations, contrasting with Core Accretion, and predicts specific correlations with host star metallicity and disc properties.

Contribution

This paper summarizes detailed simulations and develops a predictive planet formation model based on Tidal Downsizing, offering new interpretations of planetary system observations.

Findings

Debris discs from Tidal Downsizing have larger inner edges (>1 au) and are less massive.

Massive cores are predicted to be rock-dominated, not ice.

Certain exoplanet and debris disc features support Tidal Downsizing over Core Accretion.

Abstract

Tidal Downsizing is the modern version of the Kuiper (1951) scenario of planet formation. Detailed simulations of self-gravitating discs, gas fragments, dust grain dynamics, and planet evolutionary calculations are summarised here and used to build a predictive planet formation model and population synthesis. A new interpretation of exoplanetary and debris disc data, the Solar System's origins, and the links between planets and brown dwarfs is offered. This interpretation is contrasted with the current observations and the predictions of the Core Accretion theory. Observations that can distinguish the two scenarios are pointed out. In particular, Tidal Downsizing predicts that presence of debris discs, sub-Neptune mass planets, planets more massive than $\sim 5$~Jupiter masses and brown dwarfs should not correlate strongly with the metallicity of the host. For gas giants of $\sim$ Saturn to a few Jupiter mass, a strong host star metallicity correlation is predicted only inwards of a few AU from the host. Composition of massive cores is predicted to be dominated by rock rather than ices. Debris discs made by Tidal Downsizing are distinct from those made by Core Accretion at birth: they have an innermost edge always larger than about 1 au, have smaller total masses and are usually in a dynamically excited state. It is argued that planet formation in surprisingly young or very dynamic systems such as HL Tau and Kepler-444 may be a signature of Tidal Downsizing. Open questions and potential weaknesses of the hypothesis are pointed out.