Fruits of the Universe series: Observational planet formation: studying the growth of solid particles with ALMA and the VLA

by Marco Tazzari (Inst. of Astronomy, U Cambridge, UK)

Thursday 22 Dec 2016, 12:30 → 13:00 Europe/Berlin

Lounge area, 1st floor (Excellence Cluster Universe)

In the core accretion scenario for planet formation (the best candidate to explain Earth-like planets), the micron-sized dust particles found in the interstellar medium have to grow by at least 12 orders of magnitude in size in order to form the planetary cores. Modeling the grain growth process is extremely difficult as it involves very different regimes and scales. Measurements of the spatial distribution of dust grain sizes in protoplanetary disks is a major missing input for theoretical models of planet formation. Sub-mm and radio observations from modern radio interferometers like ALMA and the VLA now allow us to probe the bulk of the dust mass residing in protoplanetary disks with an unprecedented sharp view, resolving the spatial scales where planet formation occurs. Marco will show the power of the multi-wavelength analysis that he has developed which allows him to constrain simultaneously the dust grain size spatial distribution and the disk structure. He will show that in some disks the analysis provided evidence of a connection between grain growth and the chemical environment. Finally, Marco will present how we are getting prepared for the first systematic study of grain growth in a large sample of spatially resolved disks. The audience is cordially invited to discuss and comment. During this 30-minutes lunch event, we will serve drinks and fingerfood.