Observations of circumstellar disks have revealed a striking array of substructures potentially linked to the formation of protoplanets. Despite considerable efforts, ground-based near-infrared imaging has identified only two protoplanets in the iconic PDS70 system, along with a handful of candidates. The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), with its unprecedented sensitivity in the 4-12 micron range, presents novel opportunities for investigating the formation of planets.

In this presentation, I will share the exciting results of a series of JWST programs focused on studying protoplanetary disks and young, forming planetary mass companions using both the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) and the Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam), including the detection of protoplanet candidates associated with scattered light spirals. Furthermore, I will demonstrate the adaptability of the Medium Resolution Spectrograph (MRS) as a high-contrast imaging instrument capable of studying circumplanetary disks (CPDs). Indeed, the MRS has already observed a particularly intriguing system, providing for the first time tentative evidence for the existence of a cavity in a CPD. These findings carry significant implications for our understanding of planet formation and evolution

Host: Suvrath Mahadevan/Megan Delamer

Seminar held in 538 Davey or please email CEHW-SEMINAR-QUESTIONS@lists.psu.edu to attend virtually.