Planet Formation and Evolution

Catalog description

This course will present an overview of planetary formation and evolution, with particular focus on extrasolar systems. We will begin with a review of the solar system and the basic properties of extrasolar planetary systems. We will then study the formation and evolution of the host star in the context of the early stages of planet formation. We will focus on the evolution of the protoplanetary disk and its influence on planet growth and stability. Next we will explore planet formation and evolution of both gas-giant planets and terrestrial planets, including gravitational interactions and structural evolution. Finally, we will explore planetary atmospheres, focusing primarily on characterized extrasolar atmospheres. We will understand the underlying dynamics, radiative transfer, and observational constraints. Students will gain knowledge of several numerical techniques throughout the course by both developing a few numerical models of their own and also utilizing available numerical packages. The goal of the course is for students to become familiar with the current state of the art in the theory of planet formation and evolution. They should be able to understand content and context of current articles in the field and be prepared for introductory research in the field.