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Mathematical Research at the University of Cambridge

 

In weakly ionized regions of protoplanetary disks, hydrodynamic instabilities likely play a key role in the development of turbulence, the formation of structures, and the transport of angular momentum. Among these, the vertical shear instability (VSI) stands out as a robust mechanism, requiring only baroclinic stratification and short thermal relaxation timescales to operate. In this talk, I will present results from axisymmetric radiation-hydrodynamical simulations of the VSI in passive, irradiated T Tauri disks, focusing on angular momentum redistribution, the emergence of secondary instabilities, and their role in VSI saturation. I will also discuss how dust and molecular cooling shape the regions where the VSI can operate, and compare these results with current observations of protoplanetary disks.

Further information

Time:

27May
May 27th 2025
14:00 to 15:00

Venue:

MR4 DAMTP and online

Speaker:

David Melon-Fuksman [MPIA Heidelberg]

Series:

DAMTP Astrophysics Seminars