Resolving the gap and AU-scale asymmetries in the pre-transitional disk of V1247 Orionis

TL;DR

This study uses multi-wavelength interferometry to resolve the detailed structure of the pre-transitional disk around V1247 Orionis, revealing a clear gap filled with optically thin material and asymmetric features indicative of complex disk dynamics.

Contribution

First direct spatial resolution of the AU-scale gap and inner disk in V1247 Orionis, revealing optically thin material and asymmetries, advancing understanding of disk structures and planet formation.

Findings

Confirmed a narrow inner disk at 0.18 AU

Detected optically thin, carbon-rich dust in the gap

Observed brightness asymmetries indicating complex structures

Abstract

Pre-transitional disks are protoplanetary disks with a gapped disk structure, potentially indicating the presence of young planets in these systems. In order to explore the structure of these objects and their gap-opening mechanism, we observed the pre-transitional disk V1247 Orionis using the Very Large Telescope Interferometer, the Keck Interferometer, Keck-II, Gemini South, and IRTF. This allows us spatially resolve the AU-scale disk structure from near- to mid-infrared wavelengths (1.5 to 13 {\mu}m), tracing material at different temperatures and over a wide range of stellocentric radii. Our observations reveal a narrow, optically-thick inner-disk component (located at 0.18 AU from the star) that is separated from the optically thick outer disk (radii >46 AU), providing unambiguous evidence for the existence of a gap in this pre-transitional disk. Surprisingly, we find that the gap region is filled with significant amounts of optically thin material with a carbon-dominated dust mineralogy. The presence of this optically thin gap material cannot be deduced solely from the spectral energy distribution, yet it is the dominant contributor at mid-infrared wavelengths. Furthermore, using Keck/NIRC2 aperture masking observations in the H, K', and L' band, we detect asymmetries in the brightness distribution on scales of about 15-40 AU, i.e. within the gap region. The detected asymmetries are highly significant, yet their amplitude and direction changes with wavelength, which is not consistent with a companion interpretation but indicates an inhomogeneous distribution of the gap material. We interpret this as strong evidence for the presence of complex density structures, possibly reflecting the dynamical interaction of the disk material with sub-stellar mass bodies that are responsible for the gap clearing.