In the classical picture of star and planet formation, disks are expected to form as a natural consequence of core collapse to form stars. Disks are then expected to mediate the extraction of excess angular momentum during the stellar accretion phase, and to be the locus of planet formation at later times. Reality is obviously much more complicated than this one line overview: disk properties “at birth” are a complex function of the star formation environment, the problem of transport in disks is far from being fully understood, as are the initial condition and timeline for planet formation. In this talk I will discuss some of these problems, mostly focusing on the successes and limitations of our understanding of the properties of individual disks and the global evolution of disk populations. I will discuss the current evidence for early planet formation in protoplanetary disks, and the open questions related to effect of the star formation environment across the Galaxy on disk properties and evolution, which likely also affect the planet formation process.
Organizer: Matteo BUGLI
The seminar is postponed to a later date.
