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SUMMARY:Protoplanetary disc structure & planet formation signatures resolv
 ed with interferometry - Dr Stefan Kraus (University of Exeter)
DTSTART:20140127T160000Z
DTEND:20140127T170000Z
UID:TALK49612@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Dr. Jaroslav Dudik
DESCRIPTION:Star and planet formation is one of the most active and exciti
 ng research areas of modern astrophysics. Many of the open questions in th
 is field are related to the structure and physics of the innermost regions
  of protoplanetary discs\, where material is transported onto the forming 
 star\, ejected in powerful jets & outflows\, or accreted onto newly-formed
  planets. \n\nIn this talk I will outline the new opportunities provided b
 y infrared interferometry\, which allow us for the first time to resolve t
 he structure & physical processes in the AU-scale inner disc regions. I wi
 ll discuss near- and mid-infrared interferometric observations on intermed
 iate-mass pre-main-sequence stars that probe the distribution of hot dust 
 grains located at the dust sublimation radius. We find indications for a r
 adial temperature gradient and an increased vertical scale height at the s
 ublimation radius\, supporting models of irradiated discs with puffed-up i
 nner rim. Besides constraining the distribution of the continuum-emitting 
 dust\, our interferometric observations in spectral lines with high spectr
 al dispersion (R=12\,000) probe the kinematics of hot gas that is located 
 in the magnetospheric accretion and outflow-launching region close to the 
 star.\n\nTransitional disc objects are believed to be at a later evolution
 ary stage and to exhibit a gapped or dust-cleared inner disc structure. Ou
 r interferometric observations on these objects constrain the gap geometry
  and reveal complex density inhomogeneities that might be triggered by orb
 iting planets.\n\nFinally\, I will give an outlook on the upcoming generat
 ion of interferometric instruments at the VLT and MRO Interferometer\, as 
 well as the “Planet Formation Imager” (PFI) initiative\, which aims to
  develop the roadmap for the construction of a new interferometric facilit
 y that will be optimised to unmask all the major stages of planet formatio
 n\, from initial dust coagulation\, gap formation\, evolution of transitio
 n discs\, mass accretion onto planetary embryos\, and eventual disc disper
 sal.\n
LOCATION:MR14\,  Centre for Mathematical Sciences\, Wilberforce Road\, Cam
 bridge
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