Modeling the Fomalhaut Debris Disk Structure with a Collisional Grooming Algorithm

Details Modeling the Fomalhaut Debris Disk Structure with a Collisional Grooming Algorithm Modeling the Fomalhaut Debris Disk Structure with a Collisional Grooming Algorithm

Dec 2009

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009dps....41.5509s&link_type=abstract

American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #41, #55.09

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

Scientific paper

Resolved images of several debris disks, including Fomalhaut and HR 4796A, exhibit ring-like structures likely caused by planetary perturbations. In all of these disks, collisions play an important role in the dynamics of small grains, yet until now, there was no model that could accurately treat both gravitational dynamics and grain-grain collisions. We present a new collisional algorithm that enables us to produce 3D collisional debris disk models which we can use to directly compare to resolved images of debris disks. Our algorithm uses the results of a collisionless disk simulation to iteratively solve for the density distribution of a collisional disk, and can be run on a single processor in 1 hour. We show that collisions can alter the morphology of a resonant ring structure by reducing the sharpness of a resonant ring's inner edge and by smearing out any azimuthal structure. We use our algorithm to model the resolved Fomalhaut ring structure and compare synthesized images of our model to observed multi-wavelength images. Our models will help to constrain the parameters of the dust, dust parent bodies, and perturbing planetary body in the Fomalhaut system, and may present a possible explanation for the warm dust observed interior to the outer ring.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Modeling the Fomalhaut Debris Disk Structure with a Collisional Grooming Algorithm 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 Modeling the Fomalhaut Debris Disk Structure with a Collisional Grooming Algorithm, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Modeling the Fomalhaut Debris Disk Structure with a Collisional Grooming Algorithm will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1887027