What astronomical demarcation line dictates whether a protoplanet can access abundant solid ices for growth?
Answer
The frost line (or ice line)
The frost line, also referred to as the ice line, serves as the critical thermal boundary within a young solar system, separating two distinct zones of material availability. In the inner solar system, temperatures are too high, allowing only refractory materials like rock and metal to condense into solids. Beyond the frost line, in the colder outer reaches, volatile compounds such as water, methane, and ammonia can also condense into solid ice grains. This drastic increase in available solid mass beyond this line fundamentally alters the potential growth trajectory of protoplanets forming there.
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