Scattered Light imaging of YSOs: Probing the Fundamental Stages of Planet Formation

行星和恒星同时在温暖、尘土飞扬的圆盘中形成，环绕恒星。这些研究人员使用双子座行星成像仪在智利南双子座8米望远镜上进行了80小时的观测，将在尘埃盘中以非常高的分辨率成像该结构。随着行星的形成和增长，圆盘会形成螺旋臂、缝隙，最终形成中空的空腔--行星形成的标志。研究人员将对覆盖行星形成所有阶段的30个尘埃盘样本进行研究。他们将继续使用望远镜仪器，覆盖恒星和圆盘的其他可观测特征。行星形成的基本阶段可以在样本恒星周围的尘埃盘结构上确定。这个项目通过促进我们对其他恒星周围尘埃盘中行星形成阶段的理解来支持NSF的任务。这位首席研究员将继续与安娜堡实践博物馆合作，通过巡回天文科学展览接触密歇根州经常被忽视的农村人口。双子星行星成像仪(GPI)通过利用极端自适应光学、日冕成像和差分偏振模式，可以拍摄空间分辨率低至6AU的尘埃结构。拟议的30个圆盘的观测调查平均从横跨行星形成的所有已知阶段的中等质量年轻恒星对象的样本中提取。将利用毫米波和其他可见光/红外高对比度仪器开展后续行动，作为拟议研究计划的一部分。通过将新发现的星盘结构与恒星年龄、光谱类型和统计上有意义的天体的星盘光谱能量分布联系起来，可以从形态上确定行星形成的基本阶段，然后通过所提出的辐射转移和流体动力学模型来定量地确定行星形成的基本阶段，以估计盘质量、盘尺度高度、尘埃大小、间隙和其他结构的半径。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Planets and stars form at the same time in warm, dusty disks surrounding the stars. Using 80 hours of observing time on the 8-meter telescope Gemini South in Chile with the Gemini Planet Imager instrument, these investigators will image the structure in a dust disk with very high resolution. As planets form and grow, disks develop spiral arms, gaps, and eventually hollow cavities -- signposts of planet formation. The investigators will study a sample of 30 dust disks covering all stages of the formation of planets. They will follow-up with telescopic instruments covering other observable traits of the stars and disks. The basic stages of planet formation can be determined structurally within the dust disks around the sample stars. This project supports the mission of the NSF by promoting our understanding of the stages of planet formation within dust disks around other stars. The lead investigator will continue his partnership with the Ann Arbor Hands-on Museum to reach out to the often-overlooked rural population of Michigan through traveling astronomical science exhibits.The Gemini Planet Imager (GPI) instrument can image dust structure with spatial resolution as small as 6 AU by exploiting extreme adaptive optics, coronagraphy, and a differential polarization mode. The proposed observational survey of 30 disks draws evenly from a sample of intermediate-mass young stellar objects spanning all the known stages of planet formation. Follow-up using the mm-wave and other visible/IR high-contrast instruments will be pursued as part of the proposed research plan. By linking newly discovered disk structures with stellar ages, spectral types, and the disk spectral energy distributions for a statistically-significant number of objects, the fundamental stages of planet formation can be determined both morphologically and then quantitatively through the proposed radiative transfer and hydrodynamical modeling to estimate disk masses, disk scale heights, dust sizes, and the radii of gaps and other structures.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.