The American Astronomical Society (AAS), established in 1899 and based in Washington, DC, is the major organization of professional astronomers in North America. Its membership of about 7,000 individuals also includes physicists, mathematicians, geologists, engineers, and others whose research and educational interests lie within the broad spectrum of subjects comprising contemporary astronomy. The mission of the AAS is to enhance and share humanity's scientific understanding of the universe.
Steady State Evolution of Debris Disks around A Stars
M. C. Wyatt,R. Smith,K. Y. L. Su,G. H. Rieke,J. S. Greaves,C. A. Beichman, andG. Bryden
© 2007. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A.
The Astrophysical Journal,Volume 663,Number 1Citation M. C. Wyattet al 2007ApJ663 365DOI 10.1086/518404
M. C. Wyatt
AFFILIATIONS
Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0HA, UK
R. Smith
AFFILIATIONS
Institute for Astronomy, Royal Observatory, Blackford Hill, Edinburgh EH9 3HJ, UK
K. Y. L. Su
AFFILIATIONS
Steward Observatory, University of Arizona, 933 North Cherry Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85721
G. H. Rieke
AFFILIATIONS
Steward Observatory, University of Arizona, 933 North Cherry Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85721
J. S. Greaves
AFFILIATIONS
Scottish Universities Physics Alliance, University of St. Andrews, Physics and Astronomy, North Haugh, St. Andrews KY16 9SS, UK
C. A. Beichman
AFFILIATIONS
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109
Michelson Science Center, California Institute of Technology, Mail Stop 100-22, Pasadena, CA 91125
G. Bryden
AFFILIATIONS
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109
Article metrics
2470 Total downloads
0 Video abstract views
Permissions
Dates
- Received2007 January 3
- Accepted2007 March 22
Abstract
This paper confronts a simple analytical model for the steady state evolution of debris disks due to collisions withSpitzer observations of dust around main-sequence A stars. It is assumed that every star has a planetesimal belt, the initial mass and radius of which are drawn from distributions. In the model disk mass is constant until the largest planetesimals reach collisional equilibrium, whereupon mass falls ∝t
. We find that the detection statistics and trends seen at 24 and 70 μm can be fitted well by the model. While there is no need to invoke stochastic evolution or delayed stirring to explain the statistics, a moderate rate of stochastic events is not ruled out. Potentially anomalous systems are identified by a high dust luminosity compared with the maximum permissible in the model (HD 3003, HD 38678, HD 115892, HD 172555); their planetesimals may have unusual properties (high strength or low eccentricity), or this dust could be transient. The overall success of our model, which assumes planetesimals in all belts have the same strength, eccentricity, and maximum size, suggests the outcome of planet formation is reasonably uniform. The distribution of planetesimal belt radii, once corrected for detection bias, followsN(r) ∝r-0.8±0.3 for 3-120 AU. Since belt boundaries may be attributed to unseen planets, this provides a unique constraint on A star planetary systems. It is also shown that P-R drag may sculpt the inner edges of A star disks close to theSpitzer detection threshold (HD 2262, HD 19356, HD 106591, HD 115892). This model can be readily applied to the interpretation of future surveys, and predictions for the upcoming SCUBA-2 survey include that 17% of A star disks should be detectable at 850 μm.
