From Disks to Planets

This volume discusses the evolutionary paths linking planets and their atmospheres to their origin within circumstellar disks. It reviews the main phases of this evolution, summarizes what we understand and what are the important open questions, and suggests ways towards solutions. Dust accretion within disks generates planet cores, while gas accretion on these cores leads to the diversity of their fluid envelopes. The formation of planetary proto-atmospheres and oceans is an essential product of planet formation. A fraction of the planets retain their primary proto-atmosphere, while others lose it and may form a “secondary” atmosphere. When the disk finally dissipates, it leaves us with the combination of a planetary system and a debris disk. Using the next generation of observing facilities, we will be able to reconstruct more accurately the evolutionary paths linking stellar genesis to the possible emergence of habitable worlds.

Originally published in Space Science Reviews, Volume 205, Issue 1-4, December 2016