Princeton University Wunch Talk

ABSTRACT: Understanding the stability of radially structured fluid disks has important astrophysical applications. Examples include protoplanetary disks containing dead zones or gaps due to disk-planet interaction. Localized axisymmetric structures can undergo a non-axisymmetric dynamical instability known as the Rossby wave instability (RWI) in the context of thin accretion disks. The RWI leads to vortex formation, and has important consequences for the evolution of protoplanetary disks and planet formation theory. I will present some recent efforts to extend the original 2D linear stability calculations carried out by Li et al (2000) to 3D disks with different equations of state. I will describe the application of classic orthogonal polynomials to treat the partial differential equation eigenvalue problem.