A groundbreaking discovery by astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope has revealed a planet-forming disk flooded with carbon dioxide but lacking in water, challenging established theories of planetary chemistry. This finding in a radiation-filled star-forming region suggests that cosmic environments can significantly influence planet formation ingredients. The unique isotopic signatures of carbon dioxide may provide insights into the origins of meteorites and comets in our Solar System.
The study, led by Jenny Frediani at Stockholm University, unveiled a planet-forming disk rich in carbon dioxide, contrary to the expected dominance of water vapor in such regions. This anomaly, detected by JWST, defies conventional models of planet formation and raises questions about the disk’s chemistry evolution. The JWST/MIRI spectrum revealed a strong carbon dioxide presence instead of the anticipated water vapor.
Arjan Bik, a researcher at Stockholm University, emphasized the unexpected high abundance of carbon dioxide in the planet-forming zone, hinting at the influence of intense ultraviolet radiation on the disk’s chemistry. The presence of rare isotopic variants of carbon dioxide observed in the JWST data could shed light on the mysterious isotopic compositions found in meteorites and comets.
The CO2-rich disk was identified in the star-forming region NGC 6357, approximately 1.7 kiloparsecs away, by the eXtreme Ultraviolet Environments (XUE) collaboration. Maria-Claudia Ramirez-Tannus from the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy noted that this discovery showcases how radiation environments can alter planet-building materials, crucial for understanding planetary atmospheres and habitability potential.
The use of JWST’s MIRI instrument allows astronomers to study distant planet-forming disks in unprecedented detail, offering crucial insights into the conditions governing planet formation. Comparing intense radiation-rich regions with calmer areas reveals the diversity of environments shaping emerging planetary systems. The MIRI instrument, developed with contributions from astronomers at Stockholm University and Chalmers, enables observations of mid- to long-wavelength infrared radiation, including coronagraphs designed for exoplanet studies.
The research, titled “XUE: The CO2-rich terrestrial planet-forming region of an externally irradiated Herbig disk,” published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, marks a significant leap in understanding how extreme environments impact planet formation and the chemical diversity of emerging planetary systems.
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