How to Form Super-Earths and Sub-Neptunes
Super-Earth to sub-Neptune sized planets, orbiting very close
to their central stars, are the most common type of planets discovered so
far, and are a major outcome of the planet formation process. However,
their precise formation mechanism remains unknown. In this talk, I will
summarise the evidence that they form in the inner regions of
protoplanetary discs; discuss pathways by which such formation might occur;
describe our work to model these pathways; underline the implications of
such pathways, which can be tested against current and upcoming
observations; and suggest possible outcomes of their formation mechanism
for the habitability of these planets.