Young scientists of Samara University began studying the planetary formation mechanisms

The group of young scientists of Samara University led by Artem Kabanov, Associate Professor of the Physics Department, Candidate of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, embarked on a project implementation studying the mechanical properties and the processes of coagulation of cosmic dust in the protoplanetary cloud. The scientists are trying to find an answer to a question, what parameters should have a speck of dust to generate the planet embryo, which chemical composition should it have. They will also model its mechanical properties.
 

“As a rule, a young star, which has just been formed, is surrounded by a cloud of gas and dust. This cloud may form planets. These conditions are still unknown, but in any case, the planets can be formed by coagulation, sticking of dust particles in some of these clouds. These dust particles are certainly not a house dust, it’s a space dust: mainly particles of silicon and carbon - grains of sand, carbon silicate formation, and ice. All these particles stick together in mutual collision processes, and planetary embryos start to grow like a snowball”- said Artem Kabanov.
 

This process described by the young scientist is typical not only for the space environment - it is universal, because the particles coagulation occurs in many technical processes on the Earth. Studying and modelling of such phenomena opens up new prospects for application of the acquired knowledge in materials science, chemical industry, etc. Similar studies at the confluence of various sciences become more relevant in the world. For example, in 2016 for the first time the International Union of Crystallography and the International Astronomical Union the will hold a joint school conference on “Crystallography for Space Sciences”, mainly devoted to study of cosmic dust properties.
 

“In our pragmatic you must have a true scientific interest and mental attitude of the pioneer naturalist time to be engaged in the study of the mechanical properties and the processes of cosmic dust coagulation having different chemical composition in the protoplanetary cloud” – said Vladimir Saleev, Professor of the Physics Department of Samara University, supporting research aspirations of the young scientists.
 

The research team led by Artem Kabanov won a grant for implementation of the project “Integrated physical and chemical modelling of the mechanical properties and the processes of cosmic dust coagulation of different chemical composition in the protoplanetary cloud” from the Russian Foundation for Basic Research for 2 years.