CAREER: The Evolution of Gas in Disks - Setting the Stage for Planet Formation

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Dr. Brittain will lead and carry out a project that will enhance our understanding of the process of planet formation by studying gas in the inner region of circumstellar disks. While it is accepted that planetary systems form out of the gas and dust seen around newly formed stars, fundamental questions remain about this process. This project will study the planet-forming region of circumstellar disks using high-resolution infrared spectroscopy. This study will be able to measure the amounts of warm gas present in these disks and will help constrain the timescales for gas dissipation which is likely related to how quickly gas giant planets like Jupiter can form.The Broader Impacts of this proposal are centered on attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse group of students to the sciences. The PI proposes to develop astronomy related workshops for disadvantaged students through the collaboration of elementary education and physics majors at Clemson. The students come from the 'Creative Inquiry Initiative' program (which is already established at active at Clemson) which matches teams of students with a faculty mentor for a five semester project. Additionally, the research proposed here will make up a significant portion of a Clemson student?s Ph.D. Dissertation.