Center for Astrophysics Research and Technologies Seminar Series
Observational Constraints on the Process of Grain Growth and Evolution
Presented by Laura Perez (NRAO)
Theory and observations suggest that the earliest stage toward planet formation in a protoplanetary disk is the growth of dust particles: from interstellar medium sub-micron-sized grains to centimeter-sized pebbles. Grain growth can be inferred by measuring the spectral energy distribution at long wavelengths, which traces the continuum dust emission spectrum and hence the dust opacity. In this talk, I will review several observational studies which indicate an evolution of the dust component in protoplanetary disks, suggesting at least 4 orders of magnitude in particle size growth. Furthermore, thanks to now-available spatially resolved observations of circumstellar disks at multiple millimeter and centimeter wavelengths (employing for example CARMA, SMA, PdBI, or the VLA), evidence on a radial dependance of the dust opacity with radius has been obtained. I will discuss these recent observational constraints and its comparison with physical models of grain evolution, that include collisional coagulation, fragmentation, and the interaction of these grains with the gaseous disk (the radial-drift problem).
2:00 pm, Thursday, September 19, 2013
PAIS-2540, PAIS
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