MIRI EC Protoplanetary and Debris Disks Survey
Abstract
The study of protoplanetary disks has become increasingly important with the Kepler satellite finding that exoplanets are ubiquitous around stars in our galaxy and the discovery of enormous diversity in planetary system architectures and planet properties. High-resolution near-IR and ALMA images show increasing evidence for ongoing planet formation in young disks. We propose here to use JWST to (1) investigate the chemical inventory in the terrestrial planet forming zone, (2) to follow the gas evolution into the disk dispersal stage, and to (3) study the structure of protoplanetary and debris disks in the thermal mid-IR. We propose to observe on the order of 50 targets (Herbig Ae stars, T Tauri stars, brown dwarfs and young debris disks) using MIRI/MRS spectroscopy aiming at high S/N spectra covering the complete MIRI wavelength range. For a handful of selected targets we will also pursue NIRSpec IFU high resolution spectroscopy (2.9-5 micron). We will search for signposts of planet formation in thermal emission of micron-sized dust - information complementary to near-IR scattered light emission from small dust grains and emission from large dust in the submillimeter wavelength domain. Besides MIRI IFU data on all targets, we will study the spatial structure of outer disks searching for signatures of planet formation in TW Hydrae using the MIRI coronagraph at 15.5 micron.
- Publication:
-
JWST Proposal. Cycle 1
- Pub Date:
- July 2017
- Bibcode:
- 2017jwst.prop.1282H