SP-345 Evolution of the Solar
System
FIGURE 16.6.1.- A sketch of the series
of hetegonic processes leading to formation of secondary bodies
around a spinning magnetized central body (not drawn to scale). The
dipole magnet is located at the center of the central body and is
aligned with the spin axis. The gas falling from "infinity" into the
environment of the central body becomes ionized by collision with the
magnetized plasma when its free-fall velocity exceeds the critical
velocity for ionization, and the ionized gas then remains suspended
in the magnetic field. The rotation and magnetic field together with
the conducting plasma surrounding the central body give rise to a
homopolar emf which causes a current flow in the plasma This current
I
together with the magnetic field B give rise to a force
I x
B which
transfers angular motion from the central body to the surrounding
plasma. The current also produces prominence -like regions of gas (by
pinch effect) which are denser and cooler than the surrounding
regions and in these regions the condensation of grains takes place
Through viscous effects, the population of grains evolves into a
number of jet streams while the noncondensable gases form a thin disc
in the equatorial plane.
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