Solar Systems & Exoplanets
Solar Systems & Exoplanets
The department investigates planet formation and Solar System dynamics, with Hanno Rein leading computational studies of planetary system evolution using N-body simulations. His group develops and maintains the widely used REBOUND code, enabling precise modeling of orbital interactions, resonances, and stability in both exoplanetary systems and the Solar System. Yanqin Wu complements this by studying the formation and evolution of protoplanetary and debris disks, as well as stellar binaries, connecting disk physics to the architectures of planets and planetary systems. Sarah Seager studies planetary atmospheres and planetary habitability, and designs missions to probe these topics. Together, their work addresses fundamental questions about how planets and planetary systems form, migrate, and dynamically evolve over time.
A central focus is planetary interactions and stellar feedback on planetary systems. Kristen Menou investigates the fluid dynamics, magnetism, and tidal interactions of close-in giant exoplanets, exploring how Lorentz torques, atmospheric circulation, and stellar irradiation affect planetary rotation and observable properties. Meanwhile, Norman Murray applies both theoretical modeling and observations to study planet formation and dynamical evolution, examining how planetary systems are shaped by interactions among planets, stars, and disks. He also works on modeling emission from stars and compact objects in ways that inform planetary system environments, bridging local Solar System dynamics with the broader context of planetary astrophysics.
The department integrates observational and instrumentation approaches to advance our understanding of planets and their environments. Wu and Rein use survey data and high-precision measurements to constrain planetary system properties, while Menou and Murray combine theoretical models with observations to study planet-star interactions and the long-term evolution of planetary orbits. This combination of computation, theory, and observation provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the formation, evolution, and diversity of planets both in our Solar System and around other stars, linking small-scale disk physics to the architectures of fully formed planetary systems.
Department members conduct research in the areas of: Dynamics and evolution of proto-planetary disks, planetary systems, planetary interiors, planetary atmosphere, origins of Solar system bodies and extra-solar planets.
Pawel Artymowicz (UTSC)
Julian Lowman (UTSC)
Kristen Menou (UTSC)
Norm Murray (CITA)
Hanno Rein (UTSC)
Sara Seager (CITA)
Diana Valencia (UTSC)
Yanqin Wu
Marta Bryan (UTM)
