Astrophysics Seminar

For decades, scientists assumed that the architecture of our Solar System represented a universal template for planetary systems across the galaxy. However, modern discoveries have revealed that our system is actually an exception rather than the rule. In this presentation, I will share some of the most intriguing surprises from recent studies of exoplanet demographics, showing how diverse and unexpected planetary systems can be when compared to our own. I will begin by highlighting how astronomers now detect planets and their influence through the structures found in protoplanetary disks, the vast, rotating clouds of dust and gas that surround young stars. Features such as rings, gaps, spirals, and shadows in these disks provide essential clues about hidden planets and the dynamic processes that shape them. The core of my talk will focus on the power of high contrast imaging, a technique that allows us to directly observe these intricate disk structures and sometimes even the planets themselves. 

Using advanced instruments like SPHERE and ERIS at the Very Large Telescope, we have been able to study nearby systems such as LkCa 15 and PDS 70 in remarkable detail. By combining polarimetric imaging and total intensity measurements across multiple wavelengths, I extract information about dust grain properties, disk geometry, and the presence of forming planets. By integrating these observations with theoretical models, we can now better explain why the Solar System stands out among the hundreds of planetary systems discovered so far. This journey into the birthplaces of planets not only enriches our understanding of planet formation but also challenges us to rethink what is truly typical in the universe. I will conclude with a look at how future observations will further transform our picture of worlds beyond our own.