The aim of the project A3 is to provide an observational characterisation of the molecular gas of the global population of protoplanetary disks, of which Transition Disks (TDs) are an important subsample. The most fundamental property which governs the evolution of disks is the spatial distribution of material. This can be assessed by measuring the mass, size and surface density distribution (Σ) of disks, ideally sampling different Star-Forming Regions (SFRs) of different ages and with diverse environmental conditions. In order to study the disk evolution process, one would need to determine also the accretion rate of material onto the central star, the stellar mass, which are nowadays available for most nearby SFRs. With this observational project we aim at constraining the gas content, radial extent and the slope of the surface density distribution in all disks detected in CO line emission in nearby SFRs. This will set the stage for an observation-based study of disk evolution, with strong connections with other more theoretical projects within the RUTD collaboration, especially project C3.
DFG Programme
Research Units
International Connection
United Kingdom, USA
