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New images of young stars are revolutionizing our understanding of planet formation. ALMA detects large grains in planet-forming disks with few AU scale resolution and scattered light imaging with extreme adaptive optics systems reveal small grains suspended on the disks flared surfaces. Tantalizing evidence for young exoplanets is emerging from line observations of CO and H-alpha. In this white paper, we explore how even higher angular resolution can extend our understanding of the key stages of planet formation, to resolve accreting circumplanetary disks themselves, and to watch planets forming in situ for the nearest star-forming regions. We focus on infrared observations which are sensitive to thermal emission in the terrestrial planet formation zone and allow access to molecular tracers in warm ro-vibrational states. Successful planet formation theories will not only be able to explain the diverse features seen in disks, but will also be consistent with the rich exoplanet demographics from RV and transit surveys. While we are far from exhausting ground-based techniques, the ultimate combination of high angular resolution and high infrared sensitivity can only be achieved through mid-infrared space interferometry.
The Planet Formation Imager (PFI) project aims to provide a strong scientific vision for ground-based optical astronomy beyond the upcoming generation of Extremely Large Telescopes. We make the case that a breakthrough in angular resolution imaging c
The Planet Formation Imager (PFI, www.planetformationimager.org) is a next-generation infrared interferometer array with the primary goal of imaging the active phases of planet formation in nearby star forming regions. PFI will be sensitive to warm d
An international group of scientists has begun planning for the Planet Formation Imager (PFI, www.planetformationimager.org), a next-generation infrared interferometer array with the primary goal of imaging the active phases of planet formation in ne
The Planet Formation Imager (PFI) is a near- and mid-infrared interferometer project with the driving science goal of imaging directly the key stages of planet formation, including the young proto-planets themselves. Here, we will present an update o
Among the most fascinating and hotly-debated areas in contemporary astrophysics are the means by which planetary systems are assembled from the large rotating disks of gas and dust which attend a stellar birth. Although important work has already bee