[ESAC Student Seminar] Jensen Lawrence

“The Thermal Environment of Planet Formation”

Protoplanetary disks – the disks of gas and dust that encircle newborn stars – are the birthplaces of planets. While the whole protoplanetary disk influences planet formation, it is the disk midplane where planets are assembled. In particular, the midplane temperature structure plays a crucial role in controlling dust evolution, and afterwards, planetesimal growth. The midplane has historically been challenging to probe due to its concealment beneath the disk surface. However, recent ALMA Large Programs, namely MAPS and exoALMA, have generated high-resolution sub-mm observations of moderately-inclined disks where the midplane is discernible. Here, we leverage this newfound midplane access to produce the first population-level assessment of the temperature structure of the disk midplane. Using molecular line emission observations of 12CO and 13CO gas in eight protoplanetary disks, we construct empirical midplane temperature-radius profiles, revealing the radial dependence of temperature in the planet-forming region. We also probe the azimuthal temperature structure of the midplane, searching for angular asymmetries. Future work will compare these results to theoretical predictions, informing planet formation models. As well, we hope to constrain the relative abundances of 12CO and 13CO in the disk midplane, shedding light on radial variations in isotopic composition.

ESAC Student Seminar Series

A forum for students and postdocs to share recent research, hone presentation skills, and build community among peers, sponsored by the EAPS Student Advisory Committee. Open to current EAPS graduate and undergraduate students and postdocs. Typically hosted on Thursdays during the semester, including pizza lunch.

Contact: esac.officers@gmail.com