Constraining Theory and Modelling of Protoplanetary Discs

Abstract

Circumstellar discs around Young Stellar Objects (YSO) are of great scientific interest, since one expects there to find the precursors of planets. Most of the material on the disc is at cold temperatures and mm observations can be used to infer disc properties. The project ALMA (Atacama Large Milimeter Array) will count with the highest ever sensitivity spatial and spectral resolution in the mm, constituting the key project for astronomy of cold objects on the next decades. Here we discuss on how present observational facilities allow to obtain disc properties and how this can be related with theory and models of disc formation and evolution. We explore how ALMA will help us to reduce current uncertainties in our understanding of these systems.