PLANETS: The origin of planetary systems

• Forschungsstelle: EU FRP
• Projektnummer: 02.0122
• Projekttitel Englisch: PLANETS: The origin of planetary systems

Schlüsselwörter (Englisch)

Education; Training; Scientific Research; Social Aspects

Alternative Projektnummern (Englisch)

EU project number: HPRN-CT-2002-00308

Forschungsprogramme (Englisch)

EU-programme: 5. Frame Research Programme - 4.1.1 Research training networks

Kurzbeschreibung (Englisch)

See abstract

Abstract (Englisch)

The question of the origin and evolution of planetary systems and their relation to the origin of life is one of the most fundamental and fascinating problems of astrophysics. This topic is currently in a very exciting stage due to the recent discovery of Jupiter-sized planets and planetary systems around solar-type stars, the first compelling evidence for planetary dust disks and the advent of new observational facilities at infrared and millimetre wavelengths which allow a detailed study of all stages of planet formation. Astronomy should in the next years start to find answers to the fundamental question of how protoplanetary disks form around stars, under what circumstances planetary systems emerge from these disks, and how abundant Earth-like planets in zones suitable for the development of lite should be. This network will combine leading research groups in Europe working in the field of planet formation.

Its principal aim will be carry out, in a concerted effort a comprehensive set of observational and theoretical studies of planet formation starting with the formation of gasrich disks around central stars and-their subsequent viscous evolution. The agglomeration of micron-size dust particles to kilometre-sized planetary embryos and the runaway growth of these planetesimals to massive Jovian planets will be investigated. A study of planet migration and interaction in the disks will provide insight about the likelihood to form stable planetary systems like the Solar System. New high-accuracy radial velocity surveys planned by the network are expected to detect for the first time low-mass planets and more complex planetary systems, improving our information on the typical orbital characteristics and frequency and of planetary systems and on the uniqueness of the Solar system.

Datenbankreferenzen (Englisch)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 02.0122