This review addresses the state of research that employs astronomical (remote sensing)
observations of solids (“dust”) in young circumstellar disks to learn about planet formation …

Aims. The composition of planetary solids and gases is largely rooted in the processing of
volatile elements in protoplanetary disks. To shed light on the key processes, we carry out a …

We analyze how the process of dust settling affects the spectral energy distribution and
optical appearance of protoplanetary disks. Using simple analytic estimates on the one …

Context. Dozens of protoplanetary disks have been imaged in scattered light during the last
decade. Aims. The variety of brightness, extension, and morphology from this census …

We present high-contrast observations of the circumstellar environment of the Herbig Ae/Be
star HD 100546. The final 3.8 μm image reveals an emission source at a projected …

We present spectroscopic observations of a large sample of Herbig Ae stars in the 10 μm
spectral region. We perform compositional fits of the spectra based on properties of …

We present a new catalog of 108 Herbig Ae/Be candidate stars identified in the Pico dos
Dias Survey, together with 19 previously known candidates and four objects selected from …

We present the first multi-wavelength, high-contrast imaging study confirming the
protoplanet embedded in the disk around the Herbig Ae/Be star HD 100546. The object is …

Spiral arm structures seen in scattered-light observations of protoplanetary disks can
potentially serve as signposts of planetary companions. They can also lend unique insights …

We describe results from a survey for J= 3–2 12CO emission from visible stars classified as
having an infrared excess. The line is clearly detected in 21 objects, and significant …