From dust to planets – II. Effects of wide binary companions and external photoevaporation on planetesimal and embryo formation
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: ABSTRACT More than half of Solar-type stars are found in binary systems. The number of exoplanets within binary systems in S-type orbits is now over 700. However, while the number has increased, there still does not exist a global model of planet formation for wide binary systems, as it does for single stars and circumbinary systems. As a precursor to such a model, which includes the necessary physical planet formation processes, it is important to understand how an outer binary companion affects the evolution of circumstellar discs, and the formation of planetesimals and planetary embryos. The main mechanism due to which these processes are affected is through truncation of the protoplanetary disc outer edges. In this paper, we determine these effects while also comparing them to the effects of external photoevaporation that competes to truncate protoplanetary discs. We find that disc truncation by both a binary companion and external photoevaporation significantly reduces the efficiency to which planetary embryos are able to accrete pebbles and grow into terrestrial mass planets. This is due to the pebble supply being cut off as the pebble production front reaches the disc outer edge before planets are able to significantly increase in mass. This hindrance to planet formation occurs when the truncation radius due to the binary companion is below $\sim 30\, {\rm au}$, corresponding to binary separations of $\sim 90\, {\rm au}$ for equal-mass circular binary stars. For separations greater than 300$\, {\rm au}$, planet formation operates similar to that around single stars. Our results highlight the detrimental effects of a binary companion for intermediate binaries, which can provide possible explanations for the dearth of multiple planets within binary systems of separations $\,\lt\, 100\, {\rm au}$.
Author: Gavin A L Coleman
Institution: Queen Mary University of London
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,046
OpenAlex ID: W7141440602