Interactions between an asteroid type body and a protoplanet within a protoplanetary accretion disc: 3D SPH simulations

Migration of protoplanets in an accretion disc of a forming star is currently the most believable scenario for the formation of planetary systems, but much work still has to be done to understand the migration mechanisms due to the planet-disc interactions. Attention is here focused on the evolution of the orbit of an asteroid type body with an initially tilted orbit, under the influence of the gravitational interaction with the accretion disc and with a more massive protoplanet (both Jupiter-like and Earth-like protoplanets are considered). A SPH based three-dimensional model is used to analyse this physical scenario. Both “internal fragment external protoplanet” and “external fragment internal protoplanet” configurations are considered.