Vortex-induced Rings and Gaps within Protoplanetary Disks

Observations of protoplanetary disks have revealed the presence of both crescent-shaped and ring-like structures in dust continuum emission. These crescents are thought to arise from dust-trapping vortices generated by the Rossby wave instability, which induces density waves akin to those caused by...

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Main Authors: Xiaoyi Ma, Pinghui Huang, Cong Yu, Ruobing Dong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IOP Publishing 2025-01-01
Series:The Astrophysical Journal
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ad9f2c
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author Xiaoyi Ma
Pinghui Huang
Cong Yu
Ruobing Dong
author_facet Xiaoyi Ma
Pinghui Huang
Cong Yu
Ruobing Dong
author_sort Xiaoyi Ma
collection DOAJ
description Observations of protoplanetary disks have revealed the presence of both crescent-shaped and ring-like structures in dust continuum emission. These crescents are thought to arise from dust-trapping vortices generated by the Rossby wave instability, which induces density waves akin to those caused by planets. These vortices have the potential to create gaps and rings within the disk, resulting from the dissipation of their density waves. We carry out 2D hydrodynamic simulations in the shearing box to investigate vortex–disk interaction. We find that long-lived vortices can produce dust rings and gaps in inviscid discs detectable by the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array, and a more elongated vortex produces rings at larger separations. Vortex-induced density waves carry over 2 orders of magnitude higher angular momentum flux compared to planet-induced ones that shock at the same location, making the former much more effective at producing dust gaps and rings far away.
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spelling doaj-art-2e6995a8eb5f4f418b16227fb9e642ff2025-08-20T02:08:14ZengIOP PublishingThe Astrophysical Journal1538-43572025-01-01979224410.3847/1538-4357/ad9f2cVortex-induced Rings and Gaps within Protoplanetary DisksXiaoyi Ma0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2622-6895Pinghui Huang1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7575-3176Cong Yu2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0454-7890Ruobing Dong3https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9290-7846Kavli Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Peking University , Beijing 100871, People’s Republic of China ; xiaoyima@stu.pku.edu.cn, rbdong@pku.edu.cn; Department of Astronomy, School of Physics, Peking University , Beijing 100871, People’s Republic of ChinaDepartment of Physics and Astronomy, University of Victoria , Victoria, BC, V8P 5C2, CanadaSchool of Physics and Astronomy, Sun Yat-Sen University , Zhuhai 519082, People’s Republic of China; CSST Science Center for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area , Zhuhai 519082, People’s Republic of ChinaKavli Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Peking University , Beijing 100871, People’s Republic of China ; xiaoyima@stu.pku.edu.cn, rbdong@pku.edu.cn; Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Victoria , Victoria, BC, V8P 5C2, CanadaObservations of protoplanetary disks have revealed the presence of both crescent-shaped and ring-like structures in dust continuum emission. These crescents are thought to arise from dust-trapping vortices generated by the Rossby wave instability, which induces density waves akin to those caused by planets. These vortices have the potential to create gaps and rings within the disk, resulting from the dissipation of their density waves. We carry out 2D hydrodynamic simulations in the shearing box to investigate vortex–disk interaction. We find that long-lived vortices can produce dust rings and gaps in inviscid discs detectable by the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array, and a more elongated vortex produces rings at larger separations. Vortex-induced density waves carry over 2 orders of magnitude higher angular momentum flux compared to planet-induced ones that shock at the same location, making the former much more effective at producing dust gaps and rings far away.https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ad9f2cProtoplanetary disksPlanet formation
spellingShingle Xiaoyi Ma
Pinghui Huang
Cong Yu
Ruobing Dong
Vortex-induced Rings and Gaps within Protoplanetary Disks
The Astrophysical Journal
Protoplanetary disks
Planet formation
title Vortex-induced Rings and Gaps within Protoplanetary Disks
title_full Vortex-induced Rings and Gaps within Protoplanetary Disks
title_fullStr Vortex-induced Rings and Gaps within Protoplanetary Disks
title_full_unstemmed Vortex-induced Rings and Gaps within Protoplanetary Disks
title_short Vortex-induced Rings and Gaps within Protoplanetary Disks
title_sort vortex induced rings and gaps within protoplanetary disks
topic Protoplanetary disks
Planet formation
url https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ad9f2c
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AT pinghuihuang vortexinducedringsandgapswithinprotoplanetarydisks
AT congyu vortexinducedringsandgapswithinprotoplanetarydisks
AT ruobingdong vortexinducedringsandgapswithinprotoplanetarydisks