Spiral arms in scattered light images of protoplanetary discs: are they the signposts of planets?

摘要: One of the striking discoveries protoplanetary disc research in recent years are spiral arms seen several transitional discs polarized scattered light. An interesting interpretation observed features is that they density waves launched by one or more embedded (proto)planets disc. In this paper, we investigate whether planets can be held responsible for excitation mechanism spirals. We use locally isothermal hydrodynamic simulations as well analytic formulae to model planets. Then H-band light images calculated using a 3D continuum radiative transfer code study effect surface and pressure scaleheight perturbation on detectability find relative change ∼3.5 (δΣ/Σ) required spirals detected with current telescopes near-infrared sources at distance typical star-forming regions (140 pc). This value factor 8 higher than what simulations. also only 0.2 sufficient create detectable signatures under same conditions. Therefore, suggest date results changes vertical structure (e.g. perturbation) instead perturbations.