<<

AST 301, Lecture 6

James Lattimer

Department of Physics & 449 ESS Bldg. Stony Brook University

February 7, 2019

Cosmic Catastrophes (AKA Collisions) [email protected]

James Lattimer AST 301, Lecture 6 Formation • Dense cores of molecular clouds collapse into hot plasma which eventually triggers nuclear reactions. • Conversion of gravitational energy both heats the material and releases infrared radiation. csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr161/lect/solarsys/nebular.html • Dense clumps form in protostellar disc that eventually themselves collapse into planets. • Conservation of angular requires spin rate to increase during collapse and disc formation. • Emissions of protostar hidden by cooler infalling matter; eventually breaks out at poles (least resistance), producing jets.

James Lattimer AST 301, Lecture 6 • Sufficiently rapidly rotating collapses form double or multiple . • Young star’s emissions sweep out B. Reipurth (Univ. of Col.), NASA gas and dust from planetary system.

C. R. O’Dell and S. K. Wong (Rice U.), WFPC2, HST, NASA

James Lattimer AST 301, Lecture 6 The Jean’s Mass

The critical mass for gravitational stability against collapse is called the Jean’s mass MJ . This can be estimated where the magnitudes of the potential and kinetic energies are equal, so the total energy is 0. : Ω = −GM2/R. 2 Internal (kinetic) energy:√ U = Mvs /2. Sound speed vs = 2N0kB T with T the . Mass M = 4πρ¯R3/3.

v 2 N k T 5v 2 3/2  3 1/2 −Ω = U =⇒ M ≈ s R = 0 B R = s . J 2G J G J 6G 4πρ¯

For T = 100K, vs = 1 km/s. −24 3 4 Forρ ¯ = 10 g/cm , MJ ≈ 2 · 10 M and RJ ≈ 170 pc. Molecular clouds must fragment to form stars.

James Lattimer AST 301, Lecture 6 Hydrostatic Equilibrium

Fg = dFP dm = ρAdr dP GMr dm = − Ar 2 dP GMr ρ dr = − r 2

James Lattimer AST 301, Lecture 6 The Virial Theorem Equation of Hydrostatic Equilibrium is the balance between pressure (due to a pressure gradient) and : dP Gmρ dm = − , = 4πρr 2dr dr r 2 dr Volume V = 4πr 3/3. Gm 1 VdP = − dm = dΩ 3r 3 Z R Z 1 VdP = PV − PdV = Ω 0 3 PV = 0 at r = 0, and also at rZ= R (surface) if P = 0. Thus Ω = −3 PdV .

For a perfect non-relativistic gas, P = 2ε/3. E is total energy. Z Ω Ω = −2 εdV = −2U, E = Ω + U = = −U 2 Half of Ω goes into heatJames Lattimer (U) andAST half 301, must Lecture 6 be radiated away during collapse. Virial Theorem Applied to an IS Cloud

Assume the cloud is bounded by the ISM pressure P0 > 0. Now Virial Theorem is Z M Z M Gm P 3 dm = 3 dm − 4πR P0. 0 r 0 ρ

For an isothermal gas, P/ρ = N0kB T and so m ∝ r if P0 = 0. GM2 3N k TM GM2 ' 3N k TM − 4πR3P , P ' 0 B − . R 0 B 0 0 4πR3 4πR4 When R is small, P0 < 0. When R is large, P0 > 0 but tends to 0 for R → ∞. There must be a maximum of P0, at RJ , which is an instability location. For R < RJ , P0 is lowered and ISM forces collapse. This doesn’t happen if R > RJ . A new estimate for MJ is ∂P  4GM 9N k T 0 = 0 =⇒ R = J , M = 0 B R . ∂R J 9N k T J 4G J MJ 0 b James Lattimer AST 301, Lecture 6 Stabilizing Molecular Clouds

Clouds exceeding MJ are stabilized by magnetic fields if B2 3GM2 ≥ 8π 4πR4 If B ' 30 µG, √ 2 2 M ≤ BR / 6G ' 50(R/pc) M ,

so 1M must originate from a region larger than about 0.14 pc. Rotation also provides support. Galactic rotation rate is −16 −1 p 3 2 · 10 s . Since Keplerian frequency is ΩK = GM/R , clouds rotating with the galactic rate are supported if 2 3 3 M ≥ Ω R /G = 0.8(R/pc) M .

or R ≤ 0.93 pc for 1M . Thus, we have 0.14 pc < R < 0.93 pc for 1M . James Lattimer AST 301, Lecture 6

Initially, collapse is isothermal because photons freely escape low-density matter. Because MJ ∝ RJ , we have 3/2 √ MJ ∝ T / ρ¯ and the Jean’s mass decreases as the cloud begins to collapse. It fragments as smaller masses destabilize. p The gravitational free-fall timescale is τff = 3/(8πGρ¯). The gravitational potential energy, half of which is radiated according to the Virial Theorem, is |Ω| ≈ GM2/R, giving rise to a luminosity r 5/2 |Ω| GM2 8πGρ¯ √ M  L ≈ ≈ = 2G 3/2 . 2τff 2R 3 R This can’t be greater than the blackbody luminosity 2 4 Lbb = 4πR σTeff , giving 8π2R9σ2T 8 1/5 M ≤ eff . G 3 James Lattimer AST 301, Lecture 6 The End of Fragmentation

Fragmentation stops when

4GMJ R < RJ = 9N0kB Teff or 81N2k2 9N k T 1/4 M = 0 B 0 B eff ≈ 0.005T 1/4M ≈ 0.03M lim 32G 2π2σ2G 2 eff

for Teff ≈ 100 K. This is greater than planetary masses, but smaller than stellar masses which must be at least 0.1–0.2 M . We can estimate the timescale for this stage of stellar collapse: r √ r 3 R3 4 2 GM τff = = = 3/2 ≈ 1000 yr 8πGρ¯ 2GM 27 (N0kB Teff )

for M = 1M and Teff = 100 K. James Lattimer AST 301, Lecture 6 Planetary Disc Formation

Infall is radial near the spin axis of the cloud, but centrifugal become appreciable for large-enough r. Angular momentum conservation implies that the 2 Ω = Ω0(r0/r) of a mass element with radius r increases during collapse (0 represents initial values). Radial infall holds p 3 until Ω = ΩK = GM/r (gravity far from the center depends on the total mass M):

GM 1/3 Ω2r 4 r = R = = 0 0 ≈ 20 AU disc Ω2 GM

−16 −1 for M = 1M ,Ω0 = 2 · 10 s and r0 = 0.33 pc. The formation of a solar system-sized disc is inevitable. A protostar forms at the center with a central density that increases in a runaway slowed when the star becomes optically thick.

James Lattimer AST 301, Lecture 6 The Protostar

The abrupt halt of gravitational collapse due to radiation trapping unleashes a shock that traverses the infalling matter and ionizes it. The Virial Theorem with complete ionization, so that the internal energy is the ionization energy I , is: Ω GM2 U = − ≈ = I = MN (χ X + χ Y ) 2 2R 0 H He

where χH (χHe ) = 15.8(19.8) ev are the ionization potentials and X (Y ) = 3/4(1/4) are the abundances of H(He). Thus I /(MN0) = χ ≈ 17 eV. Thus the initial protostellar radius is GM Rps ≈ ≈ 0.23 AU = 50R 2N0χ

for M = 1M . And if the internal energy is ¯ U = 3MN0KB T /(2µ), where µ ≈ 0.6 is the mean molecular weight, we find its mean temperature to be T¯ ≈ 9 · 104 K.

James Lattimer AST 301, Lecture 6 Protostar Evolution

Although the mean temperature is of order 105 K, and rises as the protostar contracts, the surface temperature cannot increase beyond about 3500 K, the ionization temperature for H. This is because the opacity of matter increases abruptly at this temperature (compare to the era of last scattering during the Big Bang). The protostar contracts slowly compared to free-fall: r U GM2 3GM τcont ≈ − ≈ 4 4 = 1800 yr, τff = 3 ≈ 0.01 yr. L 4πσR Teff 8πR The contraction rate slows as collapse continues. Mass continues to accrete onto the protostar during this stage, perhaps doubling its mass. Contraction finally ends when central greater than 106 K are reached and deuterium nuclear reactions ignite.

James Lattimer AST 301, Lecture 6 in the Hertzsprung-Russel Diagram

James Lattimer AST 301, Lecture 6 Star Forming Regions M42

C.R. O’Dell (Rice U.), NASA

NGC 604 M8 .Yn UU)&J etr(S) NASA (ASU), Hester J. & (UIUC) Yang H.

James Lattimer AST 301, Lecture 6 Solar System Formation – History • Georges Buffon suggested (1745) that the planets formed when a massive object (a comet, he thought) collided with the and splashed out debris that coalesced into planets. • Immanuel Kant proposed (1755) that the solar system formed from the gravitational collapse of an interstellar gas cloud. • Pierre-Simon Laplace (1790) independently proposed Kant’s idea and suggested planets formed in successive rings of gas. • Kant and Laplace idea is called the nebular hypothesis. • Laplace’s ring idea was eventually replaced by condensation of solids into planetismals and gravitational accretion of solids and gases into planets. • Modified nebular hypothesis agrees well with observations of compositions of different objects in the solar system. • Chance close encounters are too rare. • New observations of extra-solar planets are forcing modifications to explain surprising planetary orbits. James Lattimer AST 301, Lecture 6 Solar System Formation – Major Stages • Contraction: of a diffuse interstellar gas cloud due to gravity. • Conservation of angular momentum: leads to increase in rotation rate and flattening. Thermodynamic laws result in heating as the central density rises. • Condensation: Heavier elements condense into solid dust grains – metals and rocks (inner), ices like H2O and CO2 (outer). • Accretion: Dust grains collide and stick. • Continued accretion leads to formation of rocks; gravity helps form planetismals and planets. Gases retained on outer planets. • Clearing: Solar heating repels gaseous matter that is not bound to planets. Most dust is incorporated into planets. • Comets can be ejected far beyond planets by gravitational encounters with planets, which also causes planetary migrations. Asteroids are either material which never formed a planet (Jupiter’s influence?), or debris from collisions of planetismals.

James Lattimer AST 301, Lecture 6 AST 301, Lecture 6 James Lattimer

Addison-Wesley AST 301, Lecture 6 James Lattimer

Addison-Wesley AST 301, Lecture 6 Addison-Wesley James Lattimer Cartoons in Science

Nick D. Kim, nearingzero.net Planetismals Form

HH-30

www.astro.virginia.edu/class/ skrutskie/astr121/notes/sscond.html James Lattimer AST 301, Lecture 6 Solar System Formation – Timeline

James Lattimer AST 301, Lecture 6 NASA/JPL-Caltech/R. Hurt

James Lattimer AST 301, Lecture 6 Wikipedia

James Lattimer AST 301, Lecture 6 Kuiper Belt Eris

Wikipedia

Green = Kuiper belt object Orange = Scattered disc object or Centaur Magenta = Trojan of Jupiter Yellow = Trojan of Neptune

James Lattimer AST 301, Lecture 6 Oort Cloud

herschel.jpl.nasa.gov/solarSystem.shtml

James Lattimer AST 301, Lecture 6 Formation of the Earth • Earth formed 4.5 Gyrs ago. • From a small accumulation of gas and dust, it grew by accretion and bombardment of rocky material. • Impacts and radioactive energy release kept the early Earth very hot and molten. • A large impact about 4.4 Gyr ago resulted in the formation of the Moon. The moon is a permanent natural satellite of the Earth; there are other temporary moons: Cruithne, asteroid 2003 YN107, 1998 UP1 and 2000 PH5.

James Lattimer AST 301, Lecture 6 • The peak “Late Heavy Bombardment” was from Lithosphere about 4.0-3.8 Gyrs ago. • The Earth’s high temperature promoted differentiation, forming the core and mantle

as heavier elements (Fe, Ni, convective 6400 km Co, Mn and S) sank and www.physci.wsc.ma.edu/young/hgeol/geoinfo/ lighter elements (Si, Mg and timeline/formation/formation.html O) floated. • The molten character of the Earth destroyed most traces, but some 4.4 Gyr-old zircons have survived. • The Earth’s crust solidified and oceans formed about 4 Gyr ago. • Life seems to have formed on the Earth about the same time.

James Lattimer AST 301, Lecture 6