2023 Project Description

Properties of protoplanetary disks in young multiple protostellar systems

Supervisors

Hsi-Wei Yen
Find out more about supervisors on ASIAA website

Task Description and Goals

Thousands of exoplanets are discovered. These planets form in protoplanetary disks around young stars. More than half of stars are in binary or multiple systems. Dynamical interaction between protoplanetary disks and companion stars may affect disk properties and thus the planet formation process. In this project, we will make use of archival data of the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), the largest radio telescope in the world, to measure properties of protoplanetary disks in a young multiple system, look into the gas dynamics around these disks, and study how their properties being affected by interaction between disks and companion stars.

In this project, students will learn knowledge of star and planet formation, radio observation, and data analysis, and students are expected to calibrate ALMA data, generate images, and perform analysis to extract physical parameters from the data. Analysis of data obtained with other single-dish radio telescopes may be also included to learn about the environments around our targets. Students would also learn how to write a program to analyze astronomical images and data.

Required Background

Basic knowledge of Physics. Experience in Linux/Unix systems and programming is desirable but not required.