Imaging the planet-forming zone in protoplanetary disks with infrared+sub-millimeter interferometry

星星和行星的形成是现代天体物理学中最活跃、最令人兴奋的研究领域之一。这一领域的许多悬而未决的问题都与原行星盘最内部区域的结构和物理学有关，在那里，物质被输送到形成中的星星上，以强大的喷流和外流喷出，或吸积到新形成的行星上。然而，大多数上述过程发生在非常接近星星的天文单位尺度上，这阻碍了迄今为止的成像观测的直接调查。该项目的目的是利用红外和亚毫米干涉测量提供的新机会，首次以直接成像方式探索原行星盘中的陆地行星形成区。所获得的图像将揭示基本的内部盘结构，并使我们能够搜索与行星相关的盘表面结构，例如潮汐清除的间隙或年轻嵌入原行星周围的热吸积区域。结合红外和亚毫米波长的干涉观测将使我们能够确定内部圆盘的温度和密度分布以及尘埃成分。这种方法将导致对原行星盘的结构和物理过程的前所未有的全球视野，并帮助我们了解行星是如何形成的，以及它们在早期演化过程中如何与盘材料相互作用。

Star and planet formation is one of the most active and exciting research areas of modern astrophysics. Many of the open questions in this field are related to the structure and physics of the innermost regions of protoplanetary disks, where material is transported onto the forming star, ejected in powerful jets & outflows, or accreted onto newly-formed planets. However, most of the aforementioned processes take place on astronomical unit-scales very close to the star, which has prevented a direct investigation with imaging observations so far. The aim of this project is to employ the new opportunities provided by infrared and sub-millimeter interferometry in order to explore the terrestrial planet-forming zone in protoplanetary disks for the first time with direct imaging. The obtained images will reveal the fundamental inner disk structure and allow us to search for planet-related disk surface structures, such as tidally cleared gaps or the hot accretion region around young, embedded protoplanets. Combining interferometric observations at infrared and sub-millimeter wavelengths will allow us to determine the temperature & density distribution and dust composition in the inner disk. This approach will result in an unprecedented global view on the structure and physical processes in protoplanetary disks and help us to understand how planets are forming and how they interact with the disk material during their early evolution.