Understanding disk-driven migration of massive exoplanets

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One of the greatest surprises following from the discoveries of multiple exoplanets by the ground- and space-based missions is the large number of planets in short-periods orbits, including very massive, Jupiter-like planets. One of the key ideas in understanding the origin of such an orbital architecture is that it has been sculpted by the tidal gravitational coupling between the planet and the protoplanetary disc. Despite the success of this theory, it has become obvious over the years that it cannot explain certain aspects of planetary migration, especially in the regime of high-mass planets capable of opening gaps in the surrounding disc. The goal of the Nicolas Cimmerman's thesis will be to use numerical simulations and analytical calculations to make a breakthrough in our understanding of the remaining puzzles of planetary migration. His work will have strong impact on our understanding of how do the orbital architectures of exoplanets form and evolve.