Experimenting with the Earliest Stages of Planet Formation

Overarching aim: Our scientific goal is to describe, qualitatively and quantitatively, the
collisions that dominate the earliest stages of icy planetesimal-formation, to answer, "how do
planets form?" We are one of four groups world-wide approaching this empirically, using
laboratory experiments to test icy grain collisions, taking advantage of the microgravity
duration and quality in parabolic and sub-orbital flight, to study cm to sub-cm s-1 collisions
between ensembles of um-sized icy grains, forming um - mm sized 'fluffy' ice aggregates, that
stick to form cm-sized icy 'pebbles'. These "ingredients" form the basis of material that
aggregates in protoplanetary disks (including our own pre-solar nebula) to form the cores of
planets, comets and asteroids.
This PhD: This PhD will focus on laboratory work to produce and characterise the porous
amorphous icy particles required for such experiments, moving from coarse proof of
concept experiments in the laboratory, to large-scale reproducible production of icy grains,
which will be characterised through neutron scattering experiments, and IR spectroscopy,
and whose behaviour will be tested in drop tower and parabolic flight experiments. The PhD
offers scope for international and industrial collaboration, and will include significant
facilities use requiring week(s) on "in situ" experimentation away from the OU. There is also
an opportunity to apply the research to understanding of mission data (e.g. Rosetta, OSIRIS Rex, Phobos sample return), and astronomical observations (e.g. JWST and ALMA).