New study counters idea that Jupiter’s mysterious core was formed by a giant impact

A new study by the University of Durham revealed that a giant impact may not be responsible for the formation of the remarkable “diluted” nucleus of Jupiter, contesting a theory of the history of the planet.

Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, has a mystery in its heart. Contrary to what scientists once expected, its nucleus has no net border but is gradually based in the surrounding layers of hydrogen mainly (a structure known as diluted nucleus).

The way in which this diluted nucleus formed was a key question among scientists and astronomers since the Juno spacecraft of NASA revealed its existence for the first time.

A previous study suggested that a colossal collision with an early planet containing half of Jupiter’s basic equipment could have mixed the central region of Jupiter, enough to explain the interior of the planet today.

Using cutting -edge supercomputer simulations of planetary impacts, with a new method to improve the treatment of simulation of the mixture between materials, researchers from the University of Durham, in collaboration with scientists from NASA, SETI and CENSSS, University of Oslo, tested if such a massive collision could have created the diluted core of Jupiter.

The simulations were carried out on the Supercalculator of Dirac Cosma organized at the University of Durham using the Swift Open-Source Ultramodern software.

The study revealed that a stable diluted diluted nucleus structure was not produced in any of the simulations carried out, even in those involving impacts under extreme conditions.

Instead, simulations show that the material of rock and dense ice moved by an impact would reinstall itself quickly, leaving a distinct border with the external layers of hydrogen and helium, rather than forming a smooth transition area between the two regions.

The results of the study, published in Monthly opinion from the Royal Astronomical SocietySo do not support the hypothesis that the diluted nucleus of Jupiter was produced by a single dramatic impact, but rather suggest that it is the result of the way in which the growing planet has absorbed heavy and light materials as it has formed and evolved.

By reflecting on the results, the main author of the study, Dr. Thomas Sandnes of the University of Durham, said: “It is fascinating to explore how a giant planet like Jupiter would respond to one of the most violent events that an increasing planet can live.

“We see in our simulations that this type of impact literally shakes the planet to his heart – simply in the right way to explain the interior of Jupiter that we see today.”

Jupiter is not the only planet to have a diluted nucleus, because scientists have recently found evidence that Saturn also has one.

Dr. Luis Teodoro of the University of Oslo said: “The fact that Saturn also has a diluted nucleus reinforces the idea that these structures are not the result of rare and extremely high impacts, but are formed in gradually place during the long process of planetary growth and evolution.”

The results of this study could also help to clarify the understanding and interpretation of the scientists of the many exoplanets the size of a Jupiter and Saturn that have been observed around distant stars.

If the diluted nuclei are not made by rare and extreme impacts, then most or all of these planets may have comparable interiors.

The co-author of the study, Dr. Jacob Kegerreis, said: “The giant impacts are a key element in the stories of many planets, but they cannot explain everything!

“This project has also accelerated another step in our development of new ways to simulate these increasingly detailed cataclysmic events, helping us continue to reduce the way in which the incredible diversity of the worlds we see in the solar system and beyond has become.”