Water Snowline in Protoplanetary Disks

This book presents a novel method to locate the water snowline in protoplanetary disks using high-dispersion spectroscopic observations of water vapor lines. The author proposes a method to determine the location of the snowline using sophisticated chemical modeling and line radiative transfer calculations. The observed submillimeter lines of water vapor in a disk using ALMA provide the upper limit of the line fluxes with the highest sensitivity to date. These findings are important in understanding the planet formation processes and the origin of water on rocky planets.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 134 pages
Publication date: 02 September 2021
Publisher: Springer Verlag, Singapore

This groundbreaking book delves into a crucial observational test of the planet formation theory, focusing on the theoretical study of the water snowline beyond which water transforms into ice in protoplanetary disks, the birthplace of planets. Since the water snowline plays a pivotal role in dividing the regions of rocky and gas-giant planet formation, its precise location holds immense significance in the planet formation process.

The author presents a novel approach to identifying the snowlines through high-dispersion spectroscopic observations of water vapor lines. This method is rooted in sophisticated chemical modeling and intricate line radiative transfer calculations. By employing a comprehensive chemical reaction network that encompasses photoreactions and gas-grain interactions, the author successfully obtained the distribution of water vapor in the disks. The simulated transition lines of water vapor within the disks reveal that relatively weak lines with moderate excitation energies emerge as the most effective tracers of the water snowline.

Furthermore, the author made groundbreaking observations by utilizing ALMA (Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array), achieving the highest sensitivity to date in detecting submillimeter lines of water vapor in a disk. These remarkable findings provide valuable insights into locating the snowlines within the disks and significantly contribute to our understanding of the planet formation processes, as well as the origin of water on rocky planets, including our Earth, based on future observations with ALMA and SPICA (Space Infrared Telescope for Cosmology and Astrophysics).

In summary, this book represents a pioneering effort in exploring the water snowline and its implications for planet formation. Through meticulous research and innovative methodologies, the author has made significant strides in understanding the dynamics and processes governing the formation of celestial bodies. The findings presented herein lay the foundation for further advancements in our knowledge of the universe and shed light on the intricate mechanisms that shape the birth and evolution of planets.

Weight: 238g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789811574412
Edition number: 1st ed. 2020