Project Details
Projekt
Probing the inner planet-forming zones of disks with mid-infrared spectroscopy
Applicant
Professorin Dr. Ewine F. van Dishoeck
Subject Area
Astrophysics and Astronomy
Term
since 2021
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 325594231
The inner 10 AU is a key region for disk evolution and planet formation, yet its physical and chem- ical structure is still poorly constrained observationally. ALMA can only probe large mm-sized dust grains down to a few AU in disks, but not the gas. In this project, new observational data at infrared wavelengths will be used that will improve significantly on existing data. Most notably VLT-CRIRES+, JWST-MIRI and VLTI-GRAVITY will be used, with the applicants having privileged access to these facilities. Combined with observations of the outer disk in projects A1 and A3 and models developed as part of projects B–D, the following questions will be addressed: (1) gas versus dust distribution in inner disk: what are the implications for the presence of young unseen planets? (2) inner versus outer disks: are mis-alignments –a signature of a close-in companion– common? (3) disk wind signatures: what are their origin and implied mass loss rates? (4) dissipation in inner disk: what is the timescale? (5) water vapor content of inner disk: what is the relation to dust structures and location of ice lines?
DFG Programme
Research Units
International Connection
Netherlands, USA
Co-Investigators
Professorin Dr. Barbara Ercolano, Ph.D.; Professor Dr. Thomas Henning; Dr. Carlo Felice Manara; Dr. Anna Miotello, Ph.D.; Dr. Leonardo Testi
Cooperation Partners
Dr. Andrea Banzatti; Professor Dr. Geoffrey A. Blake; Dr. Arthur Bosman; Dr. Benoit Tabone
