04/02/2024
By Lynne Schaufenbil
Title: Astrochemistry as the Bridge Between Protoplanetary Disks and Exoplanets
Abstract: Given the now 5,000+ known exoplanets, we can assume that planet formation is a common process in our Galaxy. Understanding how the diversity of exoplanets that we have today came about requires understanding their natal environments - protoplanetary disks. Thanks to advances in our observational abilities, and the creation of complex modeling tools, we can gain a deep understanding of the basic physical structure and chemistry present within planet-forming disks, and use this knowledge to connect to observed planet properties, and better understand how these planets came to be. I will discuss some of the thermo-chemical modeling work that I have done to create some of the most well constrained disk models, and the subsequent lessons learned regarding the chemical environment present while planets are forming.
Bio: Jenny Calahan is an Origins of Life Fellow at the Center for Astrophysics at Harvard. She completed her Ph.D. from the University of Michigan in the summer of 2023 where her thesis involved using thermo-chemical models and ALMA observations to obtain some of the most well constrained protoplanetary disk models. She completed her undergraduate work at the University of Arizona.
If you are interested in attending either in person or via Zoom, please contact Lynne_Schaufenbil@uml.edu.