In recent years, advanced observational instruments such as ALMA and JVLA have been put into operation, and the sensitivity and resolution of space observations using radio waves have been significantly improved. As a result, we are now able to clearly observe materials in the region where stars and planetary systems are being born.  Those Telescopes have provided us with a series of new images of the physical structure and chemical composition distribution in the vicinity of protostars, and even the chemical diversity of individual sources is now discovered. It now becomes an important research target to connect such studies in astronomy with the planetary science for understanding origin and rarity of our existence.  In this project, we will conduct multi-wavelength, high-sensitivity, high-resolution molecular emission-line observations of more than 100 protoplanetary disk-forming regions that can be statistically discussed, using the ALMA telescope and other instruments, to reveal the entire chemical diversity of protoplanetary disks and their origins. We will also reveal the chemical composition of objects in different environments, such as UV intensity and elemental composition ratio, along with their physical structures. Together with the knowledge of fundamental chemical-processes obtained as feedbacks from other groups in this transformative area, we will reveal the physical and chemical phenomena occurring in the site of protoplanetary-disk formation, and dramatically advance our understanding on the origin of the chemical diversity of protoplanetary disks. In parallel, we will carry out precise measurements of spectral line frequencies of organic molecules and their isotopomers which are necessary to promote observations.

A01 Project Group Leader:

Nami Sakai

RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering Research

Chief Scientist and Director of Star and Planet Formation Laboratory