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J. Najita (NOAO)
One of the most intriguing outcomes of the discovery of extrasolar planetary systems is the realization is that the planet formation process accommodates considerable diversity. This unexpected level of diversity has challenged traditional theories of planet formation and emphasizes the need for observational studies of young disk systems in order to better understand the physical and dynamical conditions under which planets form. While there is now abundant evidence for disks around young stars, our understanding of the detailed properties of disks, especially at planet formation distances (< 10 AU), is still in its infancy. I will review our current understanding of the physical conditions in inner disks, focusing in particular on results obtained from high resolution infrared spectroscopy.
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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 35 #3
© 2003. The American Astronomical Soceity.