The study of debris disks with SPICA

TL;DR

This paper discusses how the SPICA space telescope can be used to study debris disks around stars, providing insights into planetary system diversity, planet-disk interactions, and similarities between our solar system and others.

Contribution

It highlights the potential of SPICA to advance understanding of debris disks and their connection to planetary systems, a novel application of this observatory.

Findings

Debris disks indicate dust-producing planetesimals around stars.

SPICA can help explore the diversity and structure of debris disks.

Studying debris disks links planetary system evolution across different stars.

Abstract

Debris disks are evidence that stars harbor reservoirs of dust-producing plantesimals on spatial scales similar the solar system. Debris disks present a wide range of sizes and structural features and there is growing evidence that, in some cases, they might be the result of the dynamical perturbations of a massive planet. Our solar system also harbors a debris disk and some of its properties resemble those of extra-solar debris disks. This contribution discusses how the study of debris disks with SPICA can shed light on the diversity of planetary systems, the link between debris disks and planets and the link between extra-solar planetary systems and our own.