NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2009B-0374
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2009B-0374 |
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PI: Sarah Dodson-Robinson, NExScI, sdr@ipac.caltech.edu
Address: IPAC, 770 S. Wilson Ave, Pasadena, CA 91125
CoI: Angelle Tanner, JPL/SBAR
Title: Planet Formation around Massive Stars
Abstract:
The directly imaged planetary systems orbiting the young A stars
Fomalhaut (Kalas et al. 2008) and HR 8799 (Marois et al. 2008) present
strong challenges to planet formation theories centered on solar-type
stars. We suggest that planetary-mass companions are far more likely to
be found on wide orbits of A stars than FGK stars for three reasons: (1)
core accretion in A star disks is efficient at large radii; (2) A star
planetesimal belts are highly populated and easy to excite; and (3) the
high accretion rates onto young A star-disk systems aid brown dwarf
formation by gravitational instability. We propose a high angular-
resolution search for planetary-mass companions to A stars with mid IR-
emitting dust in order to test the hypothesis that A star disks support
the formation of planet-like objects on wide orbits.
National Optical Astronomy Observatory, 950 North Cherry Avenue, P.O. Box 26732, Tucson, Arizona 85726, Phone: (520) 318-8000, Fax: (520) 318-8360
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2009B-0374 |
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