Unveiling the Magnetic Structure and Dynamics of the Star-Inner Disk Interface with Spectropolarimetry

This conference talk explores the magnetic structure and dynamics of the star-inner disk interface using spectropolarimetry, presented by Bonnie Zaire from UFMG at the Planets on the Edge KITP conference. Recorded at the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics at UC Santa Barbara in May 2025, the presentation contributes to broader discussions about Earth-sized planets in inner protoplanetary disks. Learn about how spectropolarimetry techniques help reveal crucial interactions between young stars and their surrounding disks, which influence planet formation processes. The talk is part of a conference addressing key questions about close-in rocky planets, including their nature and atmospheres, formation mechanisms, governing parameters across different star systems, and why our solar system lacks analogous planets. The conference brought together experts in exoplanet demographics, protoplanetary disks, planet formation models, and meteoritics to synthesize current knowledge and advance future research directions.