The Dynamics of circumbinary Disks and embedded Planets

• Applicant: Dr. Christoph Schäfer, since 3/2022
• Subject Area: Astrophysics and Astronomy
• Term: from 2015 to 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 285676328

The majority of stars reside in binary star systems. During their formation a sufficiently close binary star system is still surrounded by a circumbinary disc from which material can be accreted onto the binary. The orbital motion of the binary transfers angular momentum to the disc and a central inner cavity forms. These cavities have been directly detected in some special systems and the high spatial resolution capabilities of ALMA will allow to investigate more of these sources in even higher detail. A very active recent research topic is the formation and evolution of planets in these discs inspired by the circumbinary planets detected by the Kepler space mission.The fundamental structure and dynamics of circumbinary discs and embedded planets has been studied in the first phase of the project. Here, we plan to perform new hydrodynamical simulations and study the flow in the vicinity of stars, the accretion of mass and angular momentum to the binary, the change of its orbit, the three-dimensional structure of the disc and the spatial distribution of small particles. We will collaborate closely with observers in order to analyse and interpret upcoming new observations of discs and planets.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Ehemaliger Antragsteller: Professor Dr. Wilhelm Kley, until 3/2022 (†)