Building terrestrial planets: The origin of planetary composition

This project will explore the origin of terrestrial planetary composition by analysing variations the earliest solar system solids, and its influence on planetary evolution using geodynamic models. The recent explosion of exoplanet data from planet-finding missions has provided insights in planetary system dynamics, but the surface conditions and geology of these planets is unknown. The main knowledge gap is how planet composition develops from protoplanetary disks, and how this gives rise to different geodynamic behaviours. We will combine precision isotope measurements of the earliest solar system solids, to track different disk nucleosynthetic inputs, with geodynamic models to characterise end-members of planetary evolution.

This project will explore the origin of terrestrial planetary composition by analysing variations the earliest solar system solids, and its influence on planetary evolution using geodynamic models. The recent explosion of exoplanet data from planet-finding missions has provided insights in planetary system dynamics, but the surface conditions and geology of these planets is unknown. The main knowledge gap is how planet composition develops from protoplanetary disks, and how this gives rise to different geodynamic behaviours. We will combine precision isotope measurements of the earliest solar system solids, to track different disk nucleosynthetic inputs, with geodynamic models to characterise end-members of planetary evolution.

TBD