Can a planet explain different cavity sizes for small and large dust grains in transition disks?

TL;DR

This paper investigates whether a planet can account for the differing cavity sizes observed for small and large dust grains in transition disks, using high-resolution polarimetric observations of SAO 206462.

Contribution

It provides new near-IR polarimetric observations revealing complex disk structures and inner cavity sizes, offering insights into disk-planet interactions.

Findings

Detection of complex structures like dips and spirals in the disk.

Inner cavity size smaller in near-IR than in sub-mm images.

Possible explanation of cavity size differences through planet-disk interactions.

Abstract

Dissimilarities in the spatial distribution of small (micron-size) and large (millimeter-size) dust grains at the cavity edge of transition disks have been recently pointed out and are now under debate. We obtained VLT-NACO near-IR polarimetric observations of SAO 206462 (HD135344B). The disk around the star shows very complex structures, such as dips and spirals. We also find an inner cavity much smaller than what inferred from sub-mm images. The interaction between disk and orbiting companion(s) may explain this discrepancy.