Zuckerman will make observations in the optical, infrared, and millimeter regimes of: 1) dust disks (perhaps pre-planetary) around main sequence stars, with emphasis on Beta Pictoris, 2) cool companions and dust clouds around T Tauri and other pre- main-sequence stars, and 3) dust and molecules around mass-losing evolved stars, including planetary nebulae. Techniques include use of the stellar coronagraph, in the optical and infrared, and infrared speckle interferometry. Planets are thought to form from dusty gas accumulated around young stars. Dust disks suggestive of planetary formation have recently been detected around a few stars. Zuckerman will pursue this and closely related subjects with state-of-the-art instrumentation, including a camera that blocks out the light from the central star and a computer-based technique that yields very sharp infrared pictures. Zuckerman is a co-discoverer of a possible planetary companion of a nearby star.
