Debris Disc Substructures Induced by Secular Planetary Perturbations

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ID: 333476
2026
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Abstract
Abstract Observations of debris discs have the potential to provide valuable information about massive planets perturbing them gravitationally. In this work, we explore the evolution of the azimuthally-averaged (or axisymmetric) surface density (ASD) — a characteristic routinely derived from observations — in a disc that is secularly perturbed by an inner planet. We develop a detailed analytical understanding of ASD evolution and verify it using a novel numerical framework debrispy, which we make publicly available. With these tools we show that in a secularly evolving disc ASD develops a set of sharp features — sharp peaks at eccentricity nulls and finite discontinuities at caustic points where particle periastra or apoastra pile up — marching out through the disc as it ages. We probe the dependence of these features on planetary eccentricity, ratio of the free to forced particle eccentricity, and underlying radial mass distribution, showing in particular that more eccentric planets produce more prominent ASD features. Convolution with the PSF of realistic observations (as well as the non-zero random free eccentricity of debris) smooths out these features, but they can still be detectable in high-resolution observations. The radial locations of secular ASD peaks follow a particular, well-defined pattern, which should unambiguously point to their secular nature in observations. We illustrate how both detection and non-detection of such secular features in observed discs can be used (in combination with other constraints) to measure or constrain key parameters of perturbing planets (even those not yet detected) — mass, semi-major axis and eccentricity.
Reference Key
openalex_W7167950915 Use this key to autocite in the manuscript while using SciMatic Manuscript Manager or Thesis Manager
Authors Roman R. Rafikov, Deniz Akansoy, Antranik A. Sefilian
Journal monthly notices of the royal astronomical society
Year 2026
DOI
10.1093/mnras/stag2005
URL
https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stag2005
Keywords Keywords not found

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