Speaker: Ke Zhang (University of Wisconsin)

Host: Jake Simon

Title: Decoding Mass Evolution in Planet-forming disks: Insights from AGE-PRO ALMA Survey

Abstract: 

Protoplanetary disks are cradles of planet formation. Despite their brief lifetime (<10 Myr), these disks play a vital role in shaping fundamental properties of planetary systems, such as the number of rocky and giant planets, as well as the bulk compositions of planetary cores and primordial planetary atmospheres. Gas is the dominant mass constituent in protoplanetar disks, taking 99% of mass initially. Yet, it is still unclear how the gas mass evolves over time and what mechanism drives its evolution, which has become a major challenge in understanding planet formation processes. In this talk, I will discuss results from the ALMA survey of Gas Evolution in PROtoplanetary disk, AGE-PRO, an ALMA Cycle 8 large program (103 h, PI. Zhang). We collected and analyzed deep ALMA observations of a comprehensive sample of disks throughout the typical disk lifetime. By combining AGE-PRO observations and state-of-the-art thermo-chemical models, we will provide accurate gas mass and size measurements of these disks. Finally, I will show how our results are compared with predictions from two leading theories of disk evolution: Turbulent viscosity and Magneto-hydrodynamical disk winds.