Discovering the Secrets of Protoplanetary Discs with DSHARP at ALMA

This week's captivating image reveals 20 stunning protoplanetary discs observed by ALMA's inaugural Large Program, called the Disk Substructures at High Angular Resolution Project (DSHARP). Through an extensive observation campaign that spanned several months, researchers imaged 20 nearby protoplanetary discs to gain insights into the initial stages of planet formation. The impressive volume of data generated by the project has now been made available.

It has long been theorized that planetary systems likely originate from protoplanetary discs – dense rings, spirals, or ellipses composed of gas and dust that surround protostars during their formative phases. The exact process by which planets arise from these nebulous discs, however, remains unclear. Understanding the earliest stages of their evolution, when dust within a disc aggregates into planetesimals and gives rise to the seeds of planets, poses a particular challenge.

Astronomers believe that a planet's initial growth phase, which sees it transform from individual grains into a celestial body spanning several kilometers, must occur rapidly in astronomical terms. However, the absence of observational data has made it difficult to determine the precise physics behind this growth. Fortunately, this changed with the advent of advanced telescopes like ALMA.

Ultimately, astronomers aim to accurately forecast the type of planetary system that will evolve from any given disc. The DSHARP program brings us closer to this objective by offering a detailed view of the substructures (the intricate patterns of dark and light circles and spirals visible in each disc), enhancing our comprehension of their implications.

Credit:

ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO), S. Andrews et al.; NRAO/AUI/NSF, S. Dagnello