Physics
Scientific paper
Oct 2005
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2005nrdd.conf...13k&link_type=abstract
Proceedings of the Miniworkshop on Nearby Resolved Debris Disks. October 19-20, 2005. Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimo
Physics
1
Scientific paper
The Sun and at least 15% of stars are surrounded by dust disks that are collisionally replenished by asteroids and comets. Disk structure can be directly tied to the dynamical influence of more massive bodies such as planets. For example, planetary perturbations maintain a ~30 AU radius inner edge to our Kuiper Belt and offset the centre of our zodiacal dust disk ~0.01 AU away from the Sun. Here we discuss the first optical detection of reflected light from dust grains surrounding the nearby star Fomalhaut (HD 216956). We find a belt of material between 133 and 158 AU radius that has a center position offset ~15 AU from the stellar position, and with a sharp inner edge. Given Fomalhaut's proximity to the Sun (7.7 pc), these images represent the closest and highest angular resolution view of an extrasolar analog to our Kuiper Belt. We interpret the center of symmetry offset and the sharp inner edge of Fomalhaut's belt as evidence for planet-mass objects orbiting the star.
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