Formation and Evolution of Stars and Planets

The large number and diversity of known exoplanets provides an opportunity to learn about how planets form and evolve, and the physical processes that operate in their atmospheres and interiors. The challenge is to draw connections between the observed properties of exoplanets or Solar System planets and theories of their formation, structure, and evolution. We use a variety of theoretical tools to identify the key physical processes behind the observed diversity of planetary systems, from super-Earths to gas giants. We study a wide range of topics from the earliest evolution of star-forming environments, protoplanetary disk evolution, disk-star-planet interaction, formation of planetary atmospheres, the dynamical interactions within planetary systems after birth, and the structural evolution of gas giants.


Faculty Members

Cumming, Andrew

Associate Professor of Physics
Office: ERP 310
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Lee, Eve J.

Assistant Professor of Physics
Office: TSI 204
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