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A new equation of state applied to planetary impacts : II. Lunar-forming impact simulations with a primordial magma ocean

Wissing, Robert and Hobbs, David LU orcid (2020) In Astronomy and Astrophysics 643.
Abstract

Observed FeO/MgO ratios in the Moon and Earth are inconsistent with simulations done with a single homogeneous silicate layer. In this paper we use a newly developed equation of state to perform smoothed particle hydrodynamics simulations on the lunar-forming impact, testing the effect of a primordial magma ocean on Earth. This is investigated using the impact parameters of both the canonical case, in which a Mars-sized impactor hits a non-rotating Earth at an oblate angle, and the fast-rotating case, in which a half-sized Mars impactor hits a fast-spinning Earth head-on. We find that the inclusion of a magma ocean results in a less massive Moon and leads to slightly more mixing. Additionally, we test how an icy Theia would affect the... (More)

Observed FeO/MgO ratios in the Moon and Earth are inconsistent with simulations done with a single homogeneous silicate layer. In this paper we use a newly developed equation of state to perform smoothed particle hydrodynamics simulations on the lunar-forming impact, testing the effect of a primordial magma ocean on Earth. This is investigated using the impact parameters of both the canonical case, in which a Mars-sized impactor hits a non-rotating Earth at an oblate angle, and the fast-rotating case, in which a half-sized Mars impactor hits a fast-spinning Earth head-on. We find that the inclusion of a magma ocean results in a less massive Moon and leads to slightly more mixing. Additionally, we test how an icy Theia would affect the results and find that this reduces the probability of a successful Moon formation. Simulations of the fast-spinning case are found to be unable to form a massive-enough Moon.

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type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Earth, Equation of state, Moon, Planets and satellites: dynamical evolution and stability, Planets and satellites: formation, Planets and satellites: interiors
in
Astronomy and Astrophysics
volume
643
article number
A40
publisher
EDP Sciences
external identifiers
  • scopus:85095566589
ISSN
0004-6361
DOI
10.1051/0004-6361/201936227
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
87124435-37e5-4771-97d9-3519441acd19
date added to LUP
2021-01-14 17:06:53
date last changed
2024-04-03 21:57:23
@article{87124435-37e5-4771-97d9-3519441acd19,
  abstract     = {{<p>Observed FeO/MgO ratios in the Moon and Earth are inconsistent with simulations done with a single homogeneous silicate layer. In this paper we use a newly developed equation of state to perform smoothed particle hydrodynamics simulations on the lunar-forming impact, testing the effect of a primordial magma ocean on Earth. This is investigated using the impact parameters of both the canonical case, in which a Mars-sized impactor hits a non-rotating Earth at an oblate angle, and the fast-rotating case, in which a half-sized Mars impactor hits a fast-spinning Earth head-on. We find that the inclusion of a magma ocean results in a less massive Moon and leads to slightly more mixing. Additionally, we test how an icy Theia would affect the results and find that this reduces the probability of a successful Moon formation. Simulations of the fast-spinning case are found to be unable to form a massive-enough Moon. </p>}},
  author       = {{Wissing, Robert and Hobbs, David}},
  issn         = {{0004-6361}},
  keywords     = {{Earth; Equation of state; Moon; Planets and satellites: dynamical evolution and stability; Planets and satellites: formation; Planets and satellites: interiors}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{11}},
  publisher    = {{EDP Sciences}},
  series       = {{Astronomy and Astrophysics}},
  title        = {{A new equation of state applied to planetary impacts : II. Lunar-forming impact simulations with a primordial magma ocean}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201936227}},
  doi          = {{10.1051/0004-6361/201936227}},
  volume       = {{643}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}