The Evolution and Dispersal of Gas Discs
First Author:
Richard Alexander
Email: rda AT strw.leidenuniv.nl
Sterrewacht Leiden, University of Leiden
Postbus 9513
Leiden, 2300 RA, the Netherlands
Coauthors:
Clarke, Cathie, Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge
Pringle, Jim, Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge
Armitage, Phil, JILA, University of Colorado
Ercolano, Barbara, Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge
Abstract
I review recent developments in the modelling of disc evolution and dispersal. I will first present the standard picture of gas disc evolution, in which the gas disc evolves subject to viscous transport of angular momentum and photoevaporation by radiation from the central star. There are, however, a number of uncertainties and problems associated with this picture, which I will discuss along with current work that seeks to address these issues. I also consider recent observations of so-called transitional discs, thought to be ``caught in the act'' of disc clearing, and discuss the successes and failures of different models in the transitional regime. Lastly I will discuss prospects for observations of gas disc evolution in the near future, highlighting a number of potentially interesting diagnostics.
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