Project P2: Sculpturing of debris disks by planets and companions

观测数据表明，尘埃在碎片盘中的分布往往是不均匀的。边界清晰的尘埃环和靠近星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：沿着环的亮度变化，相对于主星的盘偏心偏移，或部分弯曲的盘。人们提出了各种可能的机制来解释这些现象。许多涉及到引力影响的建议，但尚未看到的行星和同伴。因此，尘埃的不对称性产生的潜力，以获得更深入的了解拱星系统的架构。在这个项目中，我们的目标是一致的描述不对称的碎片磁盘从潜在的动力学扰动，通过碰撞建模的可检测的尘埃的分布。我们将把这种不对称形成的一组情景转换成模型，并使用这些来解释现有的观测数据。我们的研究结果将包括精确的预测，以确定在个别观测良好的系统中是否以及在何处可以预期行星和伴星。相反，我们也将把我们的模型应用于外太阳系，那里对尘埃本身知之甚少。从已知的行星和小行星分布情况，我们将能够预测尘埃分布，并与“新视野号”等航天器的数据进行比较。该项目将补充项目P1，后者侧重于对称磁盘。项目P4-P9将提供碰撞模型和可观测量计算的关键要素。

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.