New picture of planet formation through structure formation of protoplanetary disks, approached complementarily by theory and observation

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K14764
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 16010:Astronomy-related
• Research Institution: Kagoshima University (2022-2023); National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (2019-2021)
• Principal Investigator: Takahashi Sanemichi 鹿児島大学, 理工学研究科, 特任研究員 (80838566)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 原始惑星系円盤 / 原始星円盤 / 惑星形成 / 重力不安定性

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Recently, detailed structures of protoplanetary disks, which are the birthplace of planets, have been observed. In this study, we investigate the formation processes of the disk structure and the planets based on the latest observations.
Observations have revealed asymmetries in the intensity map of young disks. We have shown that these asymmetries can be explained by instabilities caused by the self-gravity of the disks from hydrodynamic simulations. We have also studied the condition of the fragmentation of self-gravitating disks. From the observations, dust ring structures have also been found in older disks. Based on stability analysis, we have shown that planet-sized objects can be formed by gravitational collapse of the rings.

Free Research Field

星・惑星形成

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

原始惑星系円盤の詳細構造は近年の観測で多くの円盤に観測されるようになり、その起源や惑星形成に与える影響の理解を進めることが求められてきた。本研究では、観測結果を再現できる円盤モデルを構築することで構造の起源に迫ることができた。また、最も多く観測されているリング構造中での惑星形成過程についても理解を進めることができた。これらの成果は、今後より詳細な円盤観測や惑星形成過程の全体像を明らかにする上で重要な役割を果たす。