Highlighting the Dynamical Interaction Between Planets and Planetesimal Belts with ALMA

Abstract

We observed the debris disk surrounding the young Solar analog HD 107146 using ALMA at 1.25 mm. The continuum emission extends from about 30 to 150 AU from the central star, with a depletion region at intermediate radii (∼ 80 AU). The dust density in the outer regions appears similar or larger than in the inner regions, which can be interpreted by models of formation and evolution of planetesimal belts which involve the disruptive collisions of planetesimals triggered by the recent formation of Pluto-sized bodies. If the region with lower dust density at intermediate radii in the disk is a fully depleted gap, then this structure could be carved by a planet with a mass of ∼ 1 to few Earth masses at 80 AU from the star.

Additional Information

© 2015 Astronomical Society of the Pacific. This work makes use of the following ALMA data: ADS/JAO. ALMA #2011.0.00470.S. ALMA is a partnership of ESO (representing its member states), NSF (USA) and NINS (Japan), together with NRC (Canada) and NSC and ASIAA (Taiwan), in cooperation with the Republic of Chile. The Joint ALMA Observatory is operated by ESO, AUI/NRAO and NAOJ. J.M.C. acknowledges support from NSF grant AST-1109334.

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