Circumstellar Disk Evolution and Implications for Planet Formation in the Binary Environment

虽然最近的调查表明行星的形成是普遍的，但为行星形成提供原料的星周盘在年轻的星星系统中，特别是在近距离双星中，很少被发现。鉴于1/3 ~ 1/2的恒星都存在于双星系统中，自然会产生这样的问题：这些系统中的可变辐射场和引力场如何影响星周盘和形成于其中的行星的性质（和生存能力）。这项研究计划将使用覆盖广泛的波长范围内的数据，以提高我们的理解的结构和演变的拱星盘的样本都密切和广泛分离的双星。该计划将支持一名博士后研究人员以及几项广泛的努力，以激发历史上代表性不足的社区对物理科学的兴趣。首席研究员提出了一项对年轻双星的研究，其分离范围很广（从几个到几百个A.U.）描述（1）多重系统中成员对星周盘形成、结构和演化的影响，以及（2）为什么星周盘的演化在一些宽双星系统中显得不均匀，尽管人们可能认为伴星星星的动力学效应是无关紧要的。更广泛的对将提供一个更细致入微的研究拱星盘行为的基础上，而更密切的对盘特性将提供洞察不仅磁盘，但也二进制形成模型。为了实现这些目标，PI将采用高分辨率红外光谱，高角分辨率光学/红外成像，时间序列测光-地面和NASA的K2 -以确定旋转周期，以及通过阿尔马的亚毫米尘埃排放直接成像的拱星盘。这些数据的分析将导致一个全面的图片的形成和演变的拱盘在密切和广泛的二元看作是其恒星和二元属性的函数。此外，通过结合各个旋转周期和投影旋转值，最终可能测量双星中的恒星倾角。偏离恒星自转轴可能提供线索盘evolution.This奖项背后的动力学过程反映了NSF的法定使命，并已被认为是值得通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估的支持。

While recent surveys suggest that planet formation is universal, circumstellar disks, which provide the raw material for planet formation, are detected less often in young binary star systems, particularly in close binaries. Given that 1/3 to 1/2 of all stars occur in binary systems, the question naturally arises as to how the variable irradiation and gravitational fields in these systems influence the properties (and survivability) of circumstellar disks and the planets that form therein. This research program will use data covering a wide wavelength range to advance our understanding of the structure and evolution of circum-stellar disks for a sample of both close and widely separated binaries. This program will support a post-doctoral researcher as well as several broad efforts to stimulate interest in the physical sciences among historically underrepresented communities.The principal investigator proposes a study of young binary stars over a wide range of separations (from a few to several hundred A.U.) to characterize (1) the impact membership in a multiple system has on circumstellar disk formation, structure, and evolution, and (2) why circumstellar disk evolution appears uneven in some wide binary systems despite what one might have expected to be inconsequential dynamical effects of the companion star. Wider pairs will provide the basis of a more nuanced study of circumstellar disk behavior in general, while disk characteristics in closer pairs will offer insight into not only disk but also binary formation models. To carry out these goals, the PI will employ high-resolution infrared spectroscopy, high-angular resolution optical/infrared imaging, time series photometry - both ground-based and with NASA’s K2 - to determine rotation periods, as well as direct imaging of circumstellar disks through their sub-millimeter dust emission with ALMA. The analysis of these data will lead to a comprehensive picture of both the formation and evolution of circumstellar disks in close and wide binaries viewed as a function of their stellar and binary properties. Additionally, by combining individual rotation periods and values for the projected rotation it may ultimately be possible to measure the stellar inclination in binaries. Misaligned stellar rotation axes may provide clues to dynamical processes behind disk evolution.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.