Physics Seminar
Abstract:
Planets assemble in dusty, gas-rich disks around young stars, and the properties of exoplanetary systems, including their architectures, atmospheres, and potential habitability, trace their origins back to disk conditions. In this talk, I will describe how advancements in observational capabilities enabled by facilities, such as ALMA and JWST, now provide access to the composition, structure, and chemistry of these disks in unprecedented detail. I will focus on how such observations have revealed complex, highly-structured, and vertically-extended disks, and the implications for planet formation occurring in these systems. I will also highlight our efforts to use molecular lines to trace the earliest stages of this process, which offer a powerful, new method to directly detect young protoplanets still embedded in their natal disks. To conclude, I will discuss how ongoing and future programs are poised to push the frontiers in our understanding of the chemistry of planet formation and ultimately, allow us to link exoplanet characteristics to their birth environments.
Biography:
Charles Law is a NHFP Sagan Fellow at the University of Virginia, having previously completed both his undergraduate studies and PhD in astrophysics at Harvard University. His research focuses on the chemistry of star and planet formation. He uses observations from radio telescopes such as the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) to characterize the chemical environments in which young planets are forming. As a member of the AAS Education Committee, Charles is also invested in increasing access and promoting engagement in astronomy and STEM fields.
Note: All PHY Graduate Students are ENCOURAGED to attend. All interested parties are invited to attend. Open to the public.
CSCDR - TXT 105
Renuka Rajapakse
rrajapakse@umassd.edu