Footprints of planet formation /  Dr Min-Kai Lin ( (ASIAA) [林明楷 博士]

Planet formation is a rapidly developing field in astrophysics, driven by the continuous 
discovery of new extra-solar planets. Exoplanetary systems exhibit a wide range of 
orbital configurations likely related to their formation environment --- protoplanetary 
disks surrounding young stars. Recent high resolution observations of protoplanetary 
disks have started to provide a direct look into the planet-formation process itself. 
Observations show that protoplanetary disks contain rich sub-structures such as gaps, 
rings, spirals, and lopsided or asymmetric dust distributions. I will discuss how 
protoplanetary disk sub-structures may be the footprints of ongoing planet formation and 
disk-planet interaction. For example, asymmetric disks have been interpreted as a result 
of vortex formation in the disk. I will describe current efforts in understanding the 
physical origin and evolution of sub-structures such as disk vortices; along with recent 
developments in disk hydrodynamics and their role in planet formation theory.