Thanks to recent development of infrared and mm/submm instruments, detailed structure of dust, gas, and chemistry in protoplanetary disks has been revealed through observations of molecular lines and (polarized) dust emission. Now the ALMA Early Science has started and the forthcoming observations will reveal physical and chemical properties of planet-forming regions in the disks with its high spatial resolution and high sensitivity. Meanwhile, increasing numbers of exoplanets have been discovered these days and the Kepler spacecraft has opened a new window on the exoplanet observations. It is exactly the time to observationally test the planet formation theory which can explain formation of both our Solar system and exoplanets.
In this workshop we would like to discuss how we can approach the planet formation theory thorough ALMA observations, which will renew our understandings of protoplanetary disks, together with detailed physical and chemical disk modelling. Key topics of the workshop will be observational tests of dust and gas evolution, including chemical evolution in the disks. For example,
- How can we connect observations of protoplanetary disks to the planet formation theory, which can explain properties (e.g., masses, densities, semi-major-axes, eccentricities) of exoplanets, in the context of gas and dust evolution?
- How can we reveal evolution of dust grains in the disks, such as coagulations, settling towards the midplane, and radial migration, as well as changes in their composition?
- How can we constrain gas dispersal mechanisms of disks, such as photoevaporation and gas accretion caused by magnetorotational instabilities?
- How do properties of central stars affect physics and chemistry of disks, and then planet formation?
- How can we discover evidences of planets and/or their migration in disks?
- How do properties of disks and embedded planets affect debris disk formation?
- How do chemical properties of disks lead to composition of (exo)planetary atmospheres and solid materials in our Solar system?
We look forward to fruitful discussions on evolution of protoplanetary disks towards planet formation with participants from wide range of fields.
