Formation of Terrestrial Planets from Protoplanets: Protoplanet System Size Dependence

Abstract

The final stage of terrestrial planet formation is known as the giant impact stage where protoplanets collide one another to form planets. We statistically investigate this stage by using N-body simulations. As initial conditions, we adopt the oligarchic growth model of protoplanets. We systematically change the radial size of the initial protoplanet system. We show the dependence of the mass and orbital properties of the assembled planets on the initial protoplanet system size.The number of planets in the terrestrial planet region barely depends on the initial system size, while the mass of the individual planet increases with the initial system size.