The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded a $396,467 Project Grant to the University of Virginia under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences program (CFDA 47.049) to conduct research on dust concentration in gas substructures of non-ideal magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) planet-forming disks. The research team plans to perform sophisticated computer simulations to gain deeper insights into how magnetic fields influence the formation of rings and gaps in the gaseous disk under realistic physical conditions, how these gas substructures give rise to the rings and gaps observed in dust emission, and how the distribution of dust impacts the overall dynamics of the disk. The goal is to improve understanding of the origins of the rings and gaps that are ubiquitously observed in protoplanetary disks and are key to planet formation. The program also offers graduate and underrepresented undergraduate students valuable opportunities to participate in this cutting-edge scientific research, contributing to the training of the next generation of scientists and promoting diversity within the STEM workforce. No subawards are planned for this award, which has a performance period from September 1, 2023 to August 31, 2026.
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