Dr Craig Agnor

Profile

The aim of my research is to understand the origin of planets and satellites.  I am principally interested in how gravitational dynamics determine the orbital structure of planetary systems and how giant collisions may account for the development of particular planetary characteristics (e.g. large obliquities, satellite formation, thermal excess/deficits).  In this work I utilize a combination of analytic theory and numerical simulation (e.g., N-body orbital integrations, hydrodynamic calculations of planetary collisions) to examine the collisional and dynamical evolution of planets.

In the past my work has addressed a variety of topics in solar system evolution including:

• The formation of the terrestrial planets and the origin of the Earth/Moon system.
• The capture of Neptune's large retrograde moon Triton.
• `Giant Impacts' between planets and the origin of planetary characteristics.
• Understanding the implications of large-scale orbital migration of the solar system's giant planets.

Teaching

My teaching for this year includes:

• SPA5241 Planetary Systems 
• SPA5666 Introduction to Scientific Computing
• SPA6776 Extended Independent Project
• SPA6913 Physics Review Project
• SPA7015 Physics Investigative Project
• I have also written the module MTH6110 Communicating and Teaching Mathematics that is offered through the School of Mathematical Sciences.

Research

Research Interests:

The aim of my research is to understand the origin of planets and satellites.  I am principally interested in how gravitational dynamics determine the orbital structure of planetary systems and how giant collisions may account for the development of particular planetary characteristics (e.g. large obliquities, satellite formation, thermal excess/deficits).  In this work I utilize a combination of analytic theory and numerical simulation (e.g., N-body orbital integrations, hydrodynamic calculations of planetary collisions) to examine the collisional and dynamical evolution of planets.

In the past my work has addressed a variety of topics in solar system evolution including:

• The formation of the terrestrial planets and the origin of the Earth/Moon system.
• The capture of Neptune's large retrograde moon Triton.
• `Giant Impacts' between planets and the origin of planetary characteristics.
• Understanding the implications of large-scale orbital migration of the solar system's giant planets.

Publications

• Tinetti G, Drossart P, Eccleston P et al. (2017). The EChO science case. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1007/978-94-024-0837-9_25

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Masters A, Achilleos N, Agnor CB et al. (2014). Neptune and Triton: Essential pieces of the Solar System puzzle. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1016/j.pss.2014.05.008

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Masters A, Achilleos N, Agnor CB et al. (2014). Neptune and triton: Essential pieces of the solar system puzzle. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1016/j.pss.2014.05.008

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Arridge CS, Achilleos N, Agarwal J et al. (2014). The science case for an orbital mission to Uranus: Exploring the origins and evolution of ice giant planets. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1016/j.pss.2014.08.009

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Liu S-F, Agnor CB, Lin DNC et al. (2015). Embryo impacts and gas giant mergers – II. Diversity of hot Jupiters’ internal structure. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1093/mnras/stu2205

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Campanella G, Nelson RP, Agnor CB (2013). Possible scenarios for eccentricity evolution in the extrasolar planetary system HD 181433. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1093/mnras/stt959

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Agnor CB, Lin DNC (2012). ON THE MIGRATION OF JUPITER AND SATURN: CONSTRAINTS FROM LINEAR MODELS OF SECULAR RESONANT COUPLING WITH THE TERRESTRIAL PLANETS. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1088/0004-637X/745/2/143

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Tinetti G, Beaulieu JP, Henning T et al. (2012). EChO. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1007/s10686-012-9303-4

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Arridge CS, Agnor CB, Andre N et al. (2012). Uranus Pathfinder: exploring the origins and evolution of Ice Giant planets. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1007/s10686-011-9251-4

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Tinetti G, Cho JYK, Griffith CA et al. (2011). The science of EChO. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1017/S1743921311020448

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Li SL, Agnor CB, Lin DNC (2010). EMBRYO IMPACTS AND GAS GIANT MERGERS. I. DICHOTOMY OF JUPITER AND SATURN'S CORE MASS. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1088/0004-637X/720/2/1161

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Beurle K, Murray CD, Williams GA et al. (2010). DIRECT EVIDENCE FOR GRAVITATIONAL INSTABILITY AND MOONLET FORMATION IN SATURN's RINGS. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1088/2041-8205/718/2/L176

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Philpott CM, Hamilton DP, Agnor CB (2010). Three-body capture of irregular satellites: Application to Jupiter. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1016/j.icarus.2010.03.026

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Nimmo F, Agnor CB (2008). Dynamical and thermal implications of Martian core formation timescales. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: doi

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Nimmo F, Hart SD, Korycansky DG et al. (2008). Implications of an impact origin for the martian hemispheric dichotomy.. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1038/nature07025

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Li S-L, Agnor C, Lin DNC (2007). Giant impact, planetary merger, and diversity of planetary-core mass. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1017/s1743921308016736

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Asphaug E, Agnor CB, Scott ERD et al. (2006). Meteoritical and planetological consequences of "hit and run" non-accretionary giant impacts. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: doi

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Agnor CB, Hamilton DP (2006). Neptune's capture of its moon Triton in a binary-planet gravitational encounter. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1038/nature04792

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Nimmo F, Agnor CB (2006). Isotopic outcomes of N-body accretion simulations: Constraints on equilibration processes during large impacts from HfAV observations. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1016/j.epsl.2005.12.009

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Asphaug E, Agnor CB, Williams Q (2006). Hit-and-run planetary collisions. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1038/nature04311

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Agnor C, Asphaug E (2004). Accretion efficiency during planetary collisions. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1086/425158

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• AGNOR CB, Levison HF (2003). The Role of Giant Planets in Terrestrial Planet Formation. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1086/374625

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Asphaug E, Agnor C, Petit JM et al. (2003). TIDAL DISRUPTION OF PRIMORDIAL ASTEROIDS: A NEW PATHWAY FOR METEORITE PETROGENESIS. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: doi

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Agnor CB, Ward WR (2002). Damping of terrestrial-planet eccentricities by density-wave interactions with a remnant gas disk. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1086/338415

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• Ward WR, Agnor CB, Tanaka H (2001). On the accretion of distant planets. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: doi

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref

Supervision

This is not an exhaustive list and I would be happy to discuss other project possibilities.