Year: 2016
Type: article
Abstract: Context. Understanding the diversity of planets requires studying the morphology and physical conditions in the protoplanetary disks in which they form. Aims. We aim to study the structure of the ~10 Myr old protoplanetary disk HD 100453, to detect features that can trace disk evolution and to understand the mechanisms that drive these features. Methods. We observed HD 100453 in polarized scattered light with VLT/SPHERE at optical (0.6 μ m, 0.8 μ m) and near-infrared (1.2 μ m) wavelengths, reaching an angular resolution of ~0.02′′, and an inner working angle of ~0.09′′. Results. We spatially resolve the disk around HD 100453, and detect polarized scattered light up to ~0.42′′ (~48 au). We detect a cavity, a rim with azimuthal brightness variations at an inclination of ~38° with respect to our line of sight, two shadows and two symmetric spiral arms. The spiral arms originate near the location of the shadows, close to the semi major axis. We detect a faint feature in the SW that can be interpreted as the scattering surface of the bottom side of the disk, if the disk is tidally truncated by the M-dwarf companion currently seen at a projected distance of ~119 au. We construct a radiative transfer model that accounts for the main characteristics of the features with an inner and outer disk misaligned by ~72°. The azimuthal brightness variations along the rim are well reproduced with the scattering phase function of the model. While spirals can be triggered by the tidal interaction with the companion, the close proximity of the spirals to the shadows suggests that the shadows could also play a role. The change in stellar illumination along the rim induces an azimuthal variation of the scale height that can contribute to the brightness variations. Conclusions. Dark regions in polarized images of transition disks are now detected in a handful of disks and often interpreted as shadows due to a misaligned inner disk. However, the origin of such a misalignment in HD 100453, and of the spirals, is still unclear, and might be due to a yet-undetected massive companion inside the cavity, and on an inclined orbit. Observations over a few years will allow us to measure the spiral pattern speed, and determine if the shadows are fixed or moving, which may constrain their origin.
Source: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Authors: M. Benisty, T. Stolker, A. Pohl, J. de Boer, G. Lesur, C. Dominik, C. P. Dullemond, M. Langlois, M. Min, K. Wagner, T. Henning, A. Juhasz, P. Pinilla, S. Facchini, D. Apai, R. van Boekel, A. Garufi, C. Ginski, F. Ménard, C. Pinte, S. P. Quanz, A. Zurlo, A. Boccaletti, M. Bonnefoy, J. L. Beuzit, G. Chauvin, M. Cudel, S. Desidera, M. Feldt, C. Fontanive, R. Gratton, M. Kasper, A.-M. Lagrange, H. LeCoroller, D. Mouillet, D. Mesa, E. Sissa, A. Vigan, J. Antichi, T. Buey, T. Fusco, D. Gisler, M. Llored, Y. Magnard, O. Moeller-Nilsson, J. Pragt, R. Roelfsema, J.-F. Sauvage, F. Wildi
Institutions: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut de Planétologie et d'Astrophysique de Grenoble, Université Grenoble Alpes, University of Amsterdam, Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, Leiden University, Leiden Observatory, Heidelberg University, Lyon 1 Université, Aix-Marseille Université, Centre de Recherche Astrophysique de Lyon, Laboratoire d’Astrophysique de Marseille, Space Research Organisation Netherlands, University of Arizona, University of Cambridge, Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, ETH Zurich, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, University of Chile, Universidad Diego Portales, Observatoire de Paris, Laboratoire d’études spatiales et d’instrumentation en astrophysique, Université Pierre-et-Marie-Curie, Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova, National Institute for Astrophysics, University of Edinburgh, European Southern Observatory, Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory, Office National d'Études et de Recherches Aérospatiales, University of Geneva
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funders: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, European Commission, Agence Nationale de la Recherche, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie, Science Mission Directorate, Observatoire de Paris, Université de Recherche Paris Sciences et Lettres, Office National d'études et de Recherches Aérospatiales, FP7 Ideas: European Research Council
Awards: Hydrodynamical simulations of protoplanetary discs in the era of ALMA imaging, Optical Infrared Co-ordination Network for Astronomy, G39620777, G4030817349, G4333900429, G4832770986, G623270878, Optical Infrared Coordination Network for Astronomy, Innovative strategies for observing and modelling natural systems, G849075540
OpenAlex ID: W2546233451