Scientists believe that planets were born from a circle of gas and dust around the star, also known as the primordial planetary disk. This planetary disk generally exists for millions to a maximum of 10 million years, until all the planets orbiting the stars are born.
Schematic diagram of peter pan disc.
In recent years, astronomers have discovered that a planetary disk can exist for about 5 to 10 times the time of ordinary planetary disks, just like the mythical child who never grows up, and got the name "Peter Pan discs".
What special conditions would give rise to Peter Pan' disk, and how are the planets in it different from ordinary star systems? This is all a question that scientists are curious about.
The new study uses computer models to simulate possible environmental conditions in the universe with various parameters to study Peter Pan's evolutionary process.
The study found that such planetary disks only appear around more independent stars and have much more innate material resources than the general planetary disks.
The study's lead author, Gavin Coleman of Queen Mary University of London, said: "Most stars come together in groups of up to 100,000 stars, and it doesn't look like peter pan disks would be in such an environment." They have to be farther away from the nearest star, or the star's rays may disperse the material in the disk. They have to have abundant innate resources, more gases can withstand loss, and therefore exist longer. ”
Co-investigator Thomas Haworth said that exploring the secret of peter pan disks existing longer is of great significance for understanding the formation of primitive planetary disks and the formation of planets.
Hayworth specifically mentioned that Peter Pan disks are generally only found around relatively small stars, and these small stars tend to have a larger number of planets around them. Therefore, they believe that having sufficient innate material resources is an important condition for Peter Pan to be able to give birth to more planets.
The Peter Pan Disc was first discovered in 2016 by the Disk Detective project in collaboration between NASA and the Folk Astronomy Research Team Zooniverse. Such planetary disks are rare, and a total of 7 have been discovered so far.