Abstract

Binaries stars are frequently treated as contaminants in observations, or are considered too complicated to include in models. However, they critically sculpt many processes in the universe, including supernovae, planet formation, and reionization. In this talk, I will discuss how three different regimes of binary dynamics influence our understanding of planet formation. First, I will show how wide binary stars have a short (~Myr) and disorderly process of formation and orbital evolution in the gas-rich phase. The timescale of these processes is comparable to the planet formation timescale, indicating that the star formation process and the planet formation process must be considered in tandem. Next, I will discuss how a central binary changes the dynamical evolution and architecture of planetary systems. The planet loss mechanisms between planets around single or binary stars vary dramatically: binary stars suffer far more ejected planets, thereby reducing the chance for collisions. However, the resultant architectures of the planetary systems are nearly identical, and we find that massive planets dominate dynamical evolution. Finally, I will consider the dynamics of debris in the Pluto-Charon binary in our own Solar System and examine the impact of this debris on our understanding of planetesimal formation. By utilizing our knowledge of binary dynamics, we can begin to discern important physical and observational constraints on the formation and evolution of planets.