Mid-IR Imaging of Beta Pictoris: The Role of Planetesimal Collisions in the Central Disk

Details Mid-IR Imaging of Beta Pictoris: The Role of Planetesimal Collisions in the Central Disk Mid-IR Imaging of Beta Pictoris: The Role of Planetesimal Collisions in the Central Disk

Dec 2004

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2004aas...20517405f&link_type=abstract

American Astronomical Society Meeting 205, #174.05; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 37, p.377

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

Scientific paper

In this work we present multi wavelength mid-IR imaging of the archetypal circumstellar disk source Beta Pictoris. Obtained under excellent observing conditions with the facility mid-IR instrument TReCS at Gemini South, our data exhibits impressive sub-arcsecond structure within the central 200 AU of the disk. This region of the disk is of special interest because it is there that a young planetary system may be forming. Indeed, the data presented here illustrates the dynamic nature of the inner disk region and may show direct evidence of the formation process. In addition to confirming the previously detected brightness asymmetry between the NE and SW wings of the disk, our new images reveal a potential source of the observed brightness asymmetry: a bright clump in the SW disk wing located roughly 50 AU from the central star. Modeling of the emission from the clump shows that it is likely composed of dust grains that are smaller than those elsewhere in the disk. We suggest that the clump results from the collisional grinding of resonantly trapped objects or from the recent cataclysmic breakup of a moderately large planetesimal. Making basic assumptions about the composition of the grains and the size distribution of collision fragments we calculate that the breakup of a parent body 100 km in diameter could produce the 4x10\^20 g of mid-IR emitting dust in the clump.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Mid-IR Imaging of Beta Pictoris: The Role of Planetesimal Collisions in the Central Disk does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Mid-IR Imaging of Beta Pictoris: The Role of Planetesimal Collisions in the Central Disk, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Mid-IR Imaging of Beta Pictoris: The Role of Planetesimal Collisions in the Central Disk will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1645679