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Constraining Viscous Protoplanetary Disk Models Using Alma Kinematic Observations, Ian Rabago

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Recent molecular line observations by ALMA have revealed the 3D velocity structure of protoplanetary disks, providing new insight on the mechanisms of disk accretion and ring/gap formation. Although the constant α viscous disk model has been widely used to describe the disk surface density evolution, it may not adequately describe the gas velocity at different disk heights. By carrying out viscous hydrodynamic simulations, we confirm that the vertical velocity structure varies considerably between these models. On the other hand, the surface density evolution of the disk is only dependent on the vertically integrated stress, and does not depend on a …