Millimeter Imaging of the beta Pictoris Debris Disk: Evidence for a Planetesimal Belt

TL;DR

This study uses millimeter wavelength observations to reveal a dust belt in the beta Pictoris debris disk, indicating a planetesimal reservoir at approximately 94 AU, aligning with optical light features.

Contribution

First millimeter imaging of beta Pictoris debris disk revealing a dust belt and constraining its location and structure.

Findings

Detection of two emission peaks indicating a dust ring or belt.

Belt centered at approximately 94 AU from the star.

Correlation between millimeter emission and optical light features.

Abstract

We present observations at 1.3 millimeters wavelength of the beta Pictoris debris disk with beam size 4.3 x 2.6 arcsec (83 x 50 AU) from the Submillimeter Array. The emission shows two peaks separated by ~7 arsec along the disk plane, which we interpret as a highly inclined dust ring or belt. A simple model constrains the belt center to 94+/-8 AU, close to the prominent break in slope of the optical scattered light. We identify this region as the location as the main reservoir of dust producing planetesimals in the disk.