Kinematics and thermal equilibrium in protoplanetary disks

Vivien Chen

(National Tsing Hua University)

Protoplanetary disks are hosts of young planets and their physical conditions affect the production and configuration of planets.  Yet only in the last five years can we start observing the structures of these disks and learn their kinematics and instabilities.  To date, ALMA has observed a handful of protoplanetary disks around protostars of various spectral types.  In particular, HD163296 is at the higher-mass end of planet hosts and may provide critical boundary condition.  It is also a fairly well studied source that has many important parameters in place for advanced studies.  This project is aimed at first examining the known facts from previous study by Rosenfeld et al. and then investigating the new Band 7 data.  This project will use the newly released ALMA Science Verification data in Band 4 in addition to Band 6 and 7 data.  The student will have chances to reduce the ALMA data in our latest project on high-mass binary system.