2025 (Current Year) Faculty Courses School of Science Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences Graduate major in Earth and Planetary Sciences
Advanced Earth and Space Sciences B
- Academic unit or major
- Graduate major in Earth and Planetary Sciences
- Instructor(s)
- Satoshi Okuzumi
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 3-4 Tue (石川台2号館 Ishikawadai Bldg. 2 307) / 3-4 Fri (石川台2号館 Ishikawadai Bldg. 2 307)
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- EPS.A411
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2025
- Offered quarter
- 1Q
- Syllabus updated
- Apr 7, 2025
- Language
- English
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
This course deals with the physics of gas and dust evolution in protoplanetary disks. Protoplanetary disks are gas disks surrounding young stars, and the solids in the disks are the building blocks of planets and other solid bodies. We will learn how micron-sized dust particles form kilometer-sized solid bodies called planetesimals.
This course consists of seven classes. The course schedule will be announced at http://www.geo.titech.ac.jp/en/education.php
Course description and aims
1) Understand the physical processes governing the evolution of gas and dust in protoplanetary disks, including the solar nebula
2) Become familiar with order-of-magnitude estimates --- how to understand physics underlying complex phenomena
Keywords
planet formation, protoplanetary disks, planetesimals, dust
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
Each class consists of a lecture and a Q&A session.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Introduction | Understand the basic concepts of protoplanetary disks and planetesimals |
| Class 2 | Protoplanetary disks | Understand the theory and observations of disks around young stars |
| Class 3 | Particle motion in protoplanetary disks | Understand the vertical settling and radial drift of dust |
| Class 4 | Turbulence in protoplanetary disks | Understand how turbulence induces particle collision and diffusion |
| Class 5 | Particle sticking | Understand how small grains stick together and form macroscopic aggregates |
| Class 6 | Planetesimal formation | Understand how micron-sized dust grains form (and do not form) kilometer-sized solid bodies |
| Class 7 | Synthesis | Understand outstanding issues in planetesimal formation studies |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
None
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Handouts will be provided.
Evaluation methods and criteria
Grades will be based on the question assignments given after each class and the final report.
Related courses
- EPS.A410 ： Astrophysics and Planetary Physics A
- EPS.A413 ： Astrophysics and Planetary Physics D
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of physics, astronomy, and the solar system