Time Coordinate: 3:30 pm 24th March 2017 (Friday)

Space Coordinate: NTHU General Building II, R521

Speaker: Dr. Min-Kai Lin (ASIAA)

Title: Hydrodynamic processes in planet formation

Abstract:

Planet formation is rapidly developing field in astronomy. We are in an era of not only regular detections of extra-Solar planets, but also the planet formation process itself. Recent observations of protoplantary disks reveal stunningly detailed sub-structures such as gaps, rings, spirals and lopsided asymmetries. Understanding the origin of these structures, for example due to unseen planets or dynamical instabilities, can place constraints on the physical conditions for planet formation. I will discuss some works on hydrodynamic processes important to protoplanetary disk/planet evolution and in explaining observations. These include gravitational instabilities, vortex formation, and the vertical shear instability for generating turbulence in disks. I will also present a new effort to study dusty protoplanetary disks through a set of modified fluid dynamic equations.