Andrew Kruger
University of California at Davis and Gemini South Visiting  Astronomer
 

"Inner Disk Chemistry"
 

Edge-on protoplanetary disks present the best opportunity to study the chemical evolution in the inner disk regions around young stars. In this specialized geometry, the line of sight can pass through large columns of gas close to the star making molecular absorption spectroscopy possible (Lahuis et al. 2006). While a powerful diagnostic tool, disks with such a geometry are rare and a study of more objects is necessary to properly characterize the class. I will be presenting data from our Spitzer Cycle 5 IRS program to characterize seven edge-on disks and search for molecular absorption.