Monte Carlo radiation transfer studies of protoplanetary environments

Abstract

Monte Carlo radiation transfer provides an efficient modelling tool for probing the dusty local environment of young stars. Within this thesis, such theoretical models are used to study the disk structure of objects across the mass spectrum - young low mass Brown Dwarfs, solar mass T-Tauri stars, intermediate mass Herbig Ae stars, and candidate B-stars with massive disks. A Monte Carlo radiation transfer code is used to model images and photometric data in the UV - mm wavelength range. These models demonstrate how modelling techniques have been updated in an attempt to reduce the number of unknown parameters and extend the diversity of objects that can be studied.