Project P2: Sculpturing of debris disks by planets and companions

观测数据显示，碎片盘中的尘埃分布往往是不均匀的。有明显边界的尘埃环和靠近恒星的内部没有尘埃的区域是常见的结构特征，通常伴随着额外的不对称性：沿尘埃环的亮度变化，圆盘相对于主星的偏心偏移，或部分翘曲的圆盘。人们提出了多种可能的机制来解释这些现象。其中许多涉及到被建议但尚未被观测到的行星和伴星的引力影响。因此，尘埃的不对称性使我们有可能更深入地洞察星周系统的结构。在这个项目中，我们的目标是对非对称碎片盘进行一致的描述，从基本的动力学扰动通过碰撞模拟到最终的可探测尘埃分布。我们将把这种不对称性形成的一系列情景转化为模型，并用它们来解释现有的观测数据。我们的结果将包括对个别观测良好的系统中是否以及在哪里可以预期行星和同伴的精确预测。相反，我们还将把我们的模型应用于外太阳系，在那里人们对尘埃本身知之甚少。根据已知的行星和小行星的分布，我们将能够预测尘埃的分布，并与“新地平线”号等航天器上的数据进行比较。该项目将对专注于对称磁盘的项目P1进行补充。P4-P9项目将提供碰撞模型和可观测数据计算的关键成分。

Observational data show that the distribution of dust in debris disks is often inhomogeneous. Sharply bounded dust rings and inner regions void of dust closer to the star are common structural features, usually accompanied by additional asymmetries: variations in brightness along the rings, eccentric offsets of the disks with respect to the host stars, or partly warped disks. A variety of possible mechanisms has been put forward to explain these phenomena. Many involve the gravitational influence of suggested but yet unseen planets and companions. Dust asymmetries therefore yield the potential to gain deeper insights into the architecture of circumstellar systems. In this project, we aim for a consistent description of asymmetric debris disks from the underlying dynamical perturbations via collisional modeling to the resulting distribution of detectable dust. We will cast a set of scenarios for the formation of such asymmetries into models and use these to interpret available observational data. Our results will include refined predictions for whether and where planets and companions can be expected in individual well-observed systems. Conversely, we will also apply our models to the outer solar system, where little is known about dust itself. From the known distribution of planets and asteroids, we will be able to predict the dust distribution and compare with data from spacecraft such as "New Horizons". The project will complement project P1, which focuses on symmetric disks. Key ingredients for the collisional models and calculation of observables will be provided by projects P4-P9.