Kessler, Andrin (2025). Challenges of Planet Formation: Insights from Global Modelling and Population Synthesis. (Thesis). Universität Bern, Bern
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25kessler_a.pdf - Thesis Available under License Creative Commons: Attribution (CC-BY 4.0). Download (4MB) | Preview |
Abstract
The confirmed existence of planets, both within our Solar System as well as around thousands of other stars, raises the fundamental question about how they form. This is not only a profound inquiry about our own origins but also an intriguing multi-disciplinary scientific problem. Our foundational understanding of planetary properties is driven by observations of Earth and its neighbours, as well as planets outside of the Solar System. It is the challenge of planet formation theory to make sense of the planets we see and their diverse characteristics. Addressing this requires identifying the key physical processes driving planet formation and understanding how these processes interplay to shape fundamental planetary properties, such as mass and orbital distance. In this thesis, I use a global model of planet formation and evolution to examine two current areas of study in the planet formation community. First, I investigate the arising complexity due to two concurrently acting mechanisms for planets to grow, uncovering a strong influence on the formation of giant planets. In the second work, I revisit the long-standing conundrum of the formation of Uranus and Neptune, illustrating the extent of the problem and identifying the most promising formation scenario. Both studies highlight the complexity of planet formation, demonstrating the need for, and the value of, global models incorporating the most important physical processes.
| Item Type: | Thesis |
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| Dissertation Type: | Cumulative |
| Date of Defense: | 27 February 2025 |
| Subjects: | 500 Science > 520 Astronomy 500 Science > 530 Physics |
| Institute / Center: | 08 Faculty of Science > Physics Institute |
| Depositing User: | Hammer Igor |
| Date Deposited: | 08 Apr 2025 16:11 |
| Last Modified: | 09 Apr 2025 04:51 |
| URI: | https://boristheses.unibe.ch/id/eprint/5988 |
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