Impact of dust evolution in new planet formation paradigm

Understanding how planets form, both in and outside our solar system, is a fundamental question in astrophysics. In recent years, a significant paradigm shift in our understanding of planet formation has emerged, which focuses on two key mechanisms: planetesimal formation by pebble concentration via streaming instability (SI) and planetary core growth through pebble accretion.The development of this new paradigm has revived interest in modeling dust growth and its role in planetesimal and planet formation. However, its impact on planetesimal formation via SI and on pebble accretion remain underexplored. Dust size significantly impacts pebble accretion efficiency and the ability of dust to trigger SI, yet most models assume static dust sizes, leaving important gaps in our understanding of when and where planetesimals can form.The primary objective of this project is to determine whether dust growth can relax the conditions for both 1) planetesimal formation and 2) pebble accretion, in dust rings within realistic disk environments. To achieve this, I will conduct groundbreaking 3D simulations, for the first time incorporating dust growth, which is made feasible now by recent cutting-edge advancements in dust coagulation algorithms and the enhanced computational power of hydrodynamic simulations.The proposed project will help broaden my horizon, and build up a systemetic understanding of the crucial processes of planet formation. The enrichment and gaining of my skills through this fellowship will fundamentally equip me to carry on research independently and build up my own team. With these skills developed, following the project’s completion, I will aim to secure junior faculty positions at the level or to ERC or comparable national grants, in order to build my own junior research group at a European (or worldwide) university or research facility.