The birth environment of planetary systems.

Area of Science:

• Astronomy and Astrophysics
• Exoplanetary Science

Background:

• Star and planet formation are linked, with planets forming in protoplanetary discs around young stars.
• Observations suggest planet formation can begin as early as 1 million years after star birth.
• Stars form in dense clusters, environments vastly different from our solar system's birth location.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review processes affecting planet formation and stability in star-forming regions.
• To analyze these processes considering typical stellar densities in clusters.
• To contextualize these effects within theories of the Solar System's birth environment.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on star and planet formation in clusters.
• Analysis of observational data from instruments like the Atacama large millimeter array (ALMA).
• Discussion of theoretical models for disc truncation, photoevaporation, and dynamical encounters.

Main Results:

• Protoplanetary discs can be truncated or destroyed by stellar interactions and photoevaporation in dense clusters.
• Formed planets can experience orbital alterations due to stellar encounters and mechanisms like Kozai-Lidov.
• Stellar density in star-forming regions significantly influences planet formation and stability.

Conclusions:

• The environment of star formation, particularly high stellar density, plays a crucial role in shaping planet formation.
• Understanding these cluster effects is vital for theories on the Solar System's origin.
• Further research is needed to fully comprehend the impact of stellar environments on planetary system architectures.