Sizing up protoplanetary disks - Leon Trapman (University of Wisconsin)

Origins Seminar presented on March 29, 2021.

Title: Sizing up protoplanetary disks

Speaker: Leon Trapman, University of Wisconsin

Abstract: Although we are certain that planets can be formed, there are still large gaps in our understanding of how they formed. Observations show that exoplanets are found in a large variety of planetary systems, from multiple terrestial planets packed inside the central ~1 AU to several gas giants spread over tens of AU from the central star. The diverse outcomes of planet formation are intimately linked to the protoplanetary in which these planets have formed and grown. To better understand planet formation we should therefore study protoplanetary disks. How does the dust in these disks evolve? Does it grow and drift inward like we expect? And how does the gas evolve? Is disk evolution driven by viscous processes and turbulence or is it driven by disk winds? In my talk I will show how studying the sizes of protoplanetary disks can answer these questions and help us solve the riddle of planet formation.