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SUMMARY:To see a world in a grain of sand: observations of debris disks as
  tests of planet formation theory - Meyer\, M (ETH Zrich)
DTSTART:20090821T080000Z
DTEND:20090821T084000Z
UID:TALK19485@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Mustapha Amrani
DESCRIPTION:We will review recent observations of debris disks with a focu
 s on what they can reveal about the formation and evolution of planetary s
 ystems. In this presentation\, we define a debris disk as one where the op
 acity we see is dominated by dust produced in collisions of planetesimals.
  We will concentrate on observed properties of disks as a function of wave
 length (as a proxy for orbital radius) and compare results as a function o
 f stellar mass when possible. We will start by summarizing the observation
 al evidence for the appearance of dust debris and final gas disk dispersal
 . We then consider the observational signatures of terrestrial planet form
 ation and giant impacts. We will briefly comment on specific physical prop
 erties inferred for debris disks based on application of simple models. Fi
 nally\, we will review the observational connection (or lack thereof) betw
 een known exoplanets and debris disks. If most planetary systems are dynam
 ically full\, then it may be those systems lacking signatures of debris th
 at represent the richest planetary architectures. \n\nRelated Links\nhttp:
 //www.exp-astro.phys.ethz.ch/meyer/ - Star and Planet Formation Research G
 roup\, Institute for Astronomy\, ETH\nhttp://feps.as.arizona.edu/ - Spitze
 r Legacy Science Program FEPS
LOCATION:Seminar Room 1 Newton Institute
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