A simple model for the evolution of the dust population in protoplanetary disks

TL;DR

This paper presents a simple, calibrated model for the evolution of dust in protoplanetary disks, accurately capturing dust surface density profiles and grain size limits, aiding in understanding planetesimal formation.

Contribution

The authors develop and validate a straightforward analytical model that describes dust evolution, including growth, fragmentation, and transport, calibrated with detailed simulations.

Findings

Fragmentation dominates in inner disk regions, leading to a -1.5 dust density exponent.

Outer disk regions can become drift-dominated, with a -0.75 dust density exponent.

Radial drift is inefficient at fragmenting dust grains, supporting continuous small grain resupply.

Abstract

Context: The global size and spatial distribution of dust is an important ingredient in the structure and evolution of protoplanetary disks and in the formation of larger bodies, such as planetesimals. Aims: We aim to derive simple equations that explain the global evolution of the dust surface density profile and the upper limit of the grain size distribution and which can readily be used for further modeling or for interpreting of observational data. Methods: We have developed a simple model that follows the upper end of the dust size distribution and the evolution of the dust surface density profile. This model is calibrated with state-of-the-art simulations of dust evolution, which treat dust growth, fragmentation, and transport in viscously evolving gas disks. Results: We find very good agreement between the full dust-evolution code and the toy model presented in this paper. We derive analytical profiles that describe the dust-to-gas ratios and the dust surface density profiles well in protoplanetary disks, as well as the radial flux by solid material "rain out", which is crucial for triggering any gravity assisted formation of planetesimals. We show that fragmentation is the dominating effect in the inner regions of the disk leading to a dust surface density exponent of -1.5, while the outer regions at later times can become drift-dominated, yielding a dust surface density exponent of -0.75. Our results show that radial drift is not efficient in fragmenting dust grains. This supports the theory that small dust grains are resupplied by fragmentation due to the turbulent state of the disk.