Date:2012-03-20, 4:00pm

Venue:Conference Hall 104, Science Building

Title: Recent Advancements in Planetary Astrophysics

Speaker:D.N.C. Lin

University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, USA

Kavli Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Peking University, China

Abstract:Planetary astrophysics is the most exciting and fastest growing branch of astronomy today. Multiple innovative observational search techniques have led to the discovery of over 700 planets and 3000 additional highly probably candidates. Their new-found ubiquity and diversity not only pose challenge to our narrow geo- and heliocentric world views, but also provide clues on the dominant physical processes which determine their origin, structure, and evolution. I briefly review some major paradigm shifts, including the concept of core accretion, extensive migration, active atmospheres, common existence of habitable planets, and ongoing nonlinear dynamical evolution of multiple planetary systems. We anticipate the pace of observational discoveries and theoretical advancements will continue to accelerate. Within the foreseeable future, successful search and characterization of biomarkers on extra solar planets will lead to a conceptual revolution on the origin and proliferation of life in the Universe.