PAMS Seminar: "Using ro-vibrational Emission from Protoplanetary Disks in Order to Observe Accretion and Planet Formation in Action" by Joshua Kern

Joshua Kern is an alumnus from MSU, graduating in 2015 with a BS in Physics and in 2017 with an MNAS degree. He is currently a PhD student at Clemson University, Department of Physics & Astronomy.

Abstract:
Stars and planets form from collapsing clouds of gas. The detailed story of how that material moves from the gas cloud and eventually onto the star or forming planets is intimately tied to the physics of protoplanetary disks. In the past 30 years, advances in ground-based radio and infrared telescope facilities (as well as theoretical models) have allowed astronomers to probe the chemistry and dynamics of these disks on scales that are important for observing accretion and planet formation in action.  This talk will highlight aspects of protoplanetary disk physics, their connection with observations, and some exciting preliminary results from the spectroscopic analysis of ro-vibrational emission observed using iSHELL at the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility in Mauna Kea, Hawaii.

This seminar will be held exclusively on Zoom (955 5209 1021). Please visit the Physics Seminars page for a link.

Free