Prediction of observable quantities tracing the process of planetesimal formation

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Sebastian Wolf
• Subject Area: Astrophysics and Astronomy
• Term: from 2006 to 2012
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 24367531

This project aims at connecting the theoretical predictions for planetesimal formation and evolution processes derived in the various projects of the Forschergruppe with existing observations. Moreover, predictions for future observations will be investigated providing powerful tools to verify the results of the Forschergruppe. In the new funding phase, the project is split in three parts. In part one we will continue to investigate the observability of specific processes tracing the formation of planetesimals on the basis of the new results provided by the other teams of the Forschergruppe. We will also provide instantaneous feedback to these teams concerning the feasibility to verify their predictions (primarily projects A1, A4, C1, C2, C3), allowing them to optimize the strategy of their investigations. In the second part we will use the new constraints for disk and planetesimal formation for the analysis of specific observations. The third, minor part will be to perform new observations of circumstellar disks at the potential stage of planetesimal formation.

• DFG Programme: Research Units
• Subproject of: FOR 759: The Formation of Planets: The Critical First Growth Phase