Finding Rings in Young Protostellar Disks: Implications for Planet Formation and Disk Evolution
Sarah Sadavoy
Queen's University

Planet formation takes place in disks of dust and gas around young stars. High resolution observations of disks around pre-main sequence stars have revealed numerous cases of rings, gaps, and even spiral structures that could be indicative of young planets embedded in these systems. Nevertheless, we have yet to capture the origin of these disk features or directly connect their presence with the onset of planet formation itself. In this presentation, I will showcase a recent study of disk structures in 4 protostellar disks, which represent an early evolutionary stage. These structures show unique features compared to their pre-main sequence counterparts, namely we only find shallow, broad rings compared to narrow, sharp rings in pre-main sequence disks. We propose that either the ring features are the precursors for those in later-stage disks, but they must first evolve in shape and structure, or these ring features are the sites where planets form and these planets later carve out new features in their host disk. I will discuss some prospects of these cases and future outlooks for additional observations.

Date:	Jeudi, 13 avril 2023
Time:	11:30
Where:	Université de Montréal
	Campus MIL salle A3541