Authors: Craig B. Agnor& Erik Asphaug

Status: Astrophysical Journal Supplements, 613, L157-L160

Abstract: We present the results of smoothed particle hydrodynamic simulations of collisions between two 0.10Me differentiated planetary embryos with impact dynamics that are thought to be common to the late stage of terrestrial planet formation. At low impact velocities (vimp/vesc<1.5) and for direct collisions, the impacts are largely accretionary. Inelastic bouncing between embryos with varying degrees of erosion, followed by escape to infinity, is also a common outcome. For dynamical environments typical of most late-stage accretion models, we estimate that more than half of all collisions between like-sized planetary embryos do not result in accumulation into a larger embryo.

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