Capturing the Oort Cloud from Other Stars (cont)
Can this explain our Oort cloud?
- These calculations can only tell us the fraction of a typical SD that gets captured.
- ~20% of stars have none.
- Typically a few %.
- But, can be as large as 26%.
- Unfortunately, a 'typical SD' depends on many factors that are unknown.
- The average mass of a proto-planetary disk.
- The masses, locations, and formation times of the giant planets.
- We are forced to assume that our Solar System is typical.
- 200 Earth-masses of solids in Jupiter-Saturn zone (from planet formation models).
- Planet formation is roughly 50% efficient
100 Earth-masses are scattered out.
- Oort cloud can be as massive as 26 Earth-masses; average value of 3 Earth-masses.
- Observations say between 4 and 80 Earth-masses.
So, this works in principal!
