Joint Astrophysical Colloquium
Probing Planet Formation in the Submillimeter: Current Frontiers and the ALMA2040 Vision
Stefano Facchini (Università degli Studi di Milano)
Thursday 10/12/2026 @ 14:30, Sala Antonio Sollima (IV piano Battiferro)
The diversity of planetary systems reflects the interplay of physical and chemical processes governing their formation. Spatially and spectrally resolved observations of molecular emission from protoplanetary disks reveal both the dynamics and chemical composition of planet-forming gas. In this talk, I will present recent advances in disk kinematics and warm gas chemistry, highlighting how these measurements reveal the environments in which gas giants form and how these conditions can influence the inner regions where terrestrial planets assemble. Yet resolving the processes governing rocky planet formation remains beyond the sensitivity of current facilities. I will introduce ALMA2040, a community initiative defining the scientific vision for a next-generation millimetre/submillimetre facility in response to ESO’s Expanding Horizons initiative. I will discuss how advances in sensitivity, angular resolution, and spectral coverage could open a direct window onto terrestrial planet formation and extend detailed disk characterisation to more representative populations. I will then explore the broader opportunities such a facility could offer across astrophysics, from interstellar medium astrochemistry and the baryon cycle in galaxies to black hole and galaxy assembly in the early Universe.