Spitzer Space Telescope - Theoretical Research Proposal #40203


Simulating 3D disks with planets and central clearings 

Principal Investigator: Alice Quillen
           Institution: University of Rochester

     Technical Contact: Alice Quillen, University of Rochester

Co-Investigators: 
Richard Edgar, University of Rochester                                
Adam Frank, University of Rochester                                   
Jaehong Park, University of Rochester                                 
Peggy Varniere, Observatoire de Grenoble                              

Science Category: young stellar objects 
Dollars Approved: 39510 

Abstract:
3-dimensional hydrodynamic numerical experiments of disks harboring planets will
be carried out for the purpose of exploring the planet/disk interaction scenario
to account for the central clearings and disk walls in transition disks.
Transitional disks are young, 1-3 Myr old stars hosting disks with central
clearings. Dozens of these disks have been discovered with Spitzer observations
and strong constraints on the radial and vertical dust distribution of these
disks have been made from IRS spectra and radiative transfer modeling. However
because of the estimated edge wall thickness (h/r~1/5) relevant models relating
disk structure to dynamical models require computationally challenging 3D
simulations and so are lacking. We propose to address this problem by carrying
out 3D AMR hydro simulations to examine the 3D structure of simulated disk
edges, measure the flow field with azimuth and height, determine if and when
sufficiently high dust deficits with the clearing can be achieved, and explore
the role of dust segregation in the disk edge. Our study will definitively test
the planet/disk scenario accounting for the transitional disks. Should the
scenario succeed, we will place constraints on the planet masses residing in
transition disks and their disk properties.