The Evolution of Volatile Molecules During Planet Formation
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Where
Dr. Kamber Schwarz
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Lunar and Planetary Laboratory
The Evolution of Volatile Molecules During Planet Formation
Today, with the wealth of data provided by the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), we are beginning to characterize the chemistry associated with the early stages of planet formation. ALMA enables us to resolve protoplanetary disks down to the radii of giant planet formation, and in some instances even into the zone where Earth-like planets are born. In this talk I will discuss recent ALMA observations which reveal unexpectedly low abundances of gas phase carbon in protoplanetary disks. This volatile sequestration, i.e., the removal of molecules such as CO from the gas, can occur via chemical reprocessing into less volatile species or trapping as ice in large planetesimals. Using disk chemical modeling, I will demonstrate that under most physical conditions both chemical and physical processes likely play a role in removing carbon from the gas. Understanding the timescales of these combined processes will be crucial for linking the composition of disks and planets.
Host: Dr. Ilaria Pascucci