Meeting 1
Our first meeting was scheduled for December 5-9, 2016. This meeting focused on our Objective 1 (Understanding the measurements) and Objective 2 (Understanding the modeling approaches). Discussions focused on: (1) comet studies: major empirical findings and the challenge to disentangle cosmogonic from evolutionary effects, (2) brief overview of disk observations, and (3) model capabilities and predictions for ice abundances. These topics were placed in context of comparisons between relative abundances for cometary parent volatiles and those predicted for the midplane of the protoplanetary disk around the young Sun.
Collaboration between meetings
The team communicated during 2017 with focus on consolidating measurements of volatiles in comets (ground- and space-based) of highest relevance to testing disk models. Team members also summarized approaches for disk midplane abundances, identifying outstanding questions to address during Meeting 2. The first papers that benefited from discussions within the team were published.
Meeting 2
Our second meeting was scheduled for January 29 – February 2, 2018. The agenda included post-Meeting 1 updates on ground-based studies and on analyses of Rosetta data. The main focus was project Objective 3 – meaningful integration between compositional measurements in comets and predictions of protoplanetary disk models. The team examined critically the challenge to disentangle cosmogonic signatures from post-formative effects on comet volatile abundances and discussed the measurements with highest potential to test disk models. The team then compared and coordinated approaches, assumptions, parameters, and uncertainties in disk modeling simulations.
Long-term developments linked to the ISSI team
This synergistic project has two main outcomes:
- Deeper integrations between the broad fields of protoplanetary disk modeling and observational cometary science.
- Increased synergy between the in-depth Rosetta findings in comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko and the ground-based studies of parent volatiles on an ensemble of comets.
The ideas and collaborations that emerged from our ISSI-Bern meetings have been developed into longer term projects, such as the modeling studies of Eistrup, Walsh, & van Dishoeck (2019) and Willacy et al. (2022), which connect comet composition with protoplanetary disk midplane chemical evolution, large-scale transport processes in the disk, and/or heritage from the protosolar cloud preserved in comets. Our ISSI-Bern activities can also be linked to a number of observational projects, including the planning of ground-based campaigns on priority targets like comets 46P/Wirtanen (observations in 2018) and the returning Rosetta target 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko (observations in 2021). The theme that unifies all these projects is summarized by Willacy et al. (2022), who note: “Understanding comets’ connections to the early solar system requires combining simulations treating the midplane ice inventory with ongoing efforts to disentangle formative from evolutionary signatures in measured abundances of comet volatiles.”
Papers linked to this ISSI team are listed under Publications and will be updated as new results appear.
Beyond research, Boncho Bonev taught a continuing education class for science teachers, hosted by American University (USA) in the summer of 2022. The main focus of the class was the findings of the Rosetta mission. Prof. Kathrin Altwegg, a member of our ISSI-team, helped significantly in the preparation for this class.