Accretion through the inner edges of protoplanetary disks by a giant solid state pump

TL;DR

This paper proposes a novel mechanism where illuminated solids at the inner edge of protoplanetary disks act as tiny gas pumps, facilitating significant inward gas flow that influences disk evolution and planet formation.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of a giant solid state pump driven by stellar illumination at the disk's inner edge, a new process affecting mass transport in protoplanetary disks.

Findings

Inner edge solids can generate gas flows up to 10^{-5} solar masses per year.

The mechanism provides a significant local mass flow rate influencing disk dynamics.

Solid particles effectively act as individual gas pumps under stellar illumination.

Abstract

At the inner edge of a protoplanetary disk solids are illuminated by stellar light. This illumination heats the solids and creates temperature gradients along their surfaces. Interactions with ambient gas molecules lead to a radial net gas flow. Every illuminated solid particle within the edge is an individual small gas pump transporting gas inward. In total the inner edge can provide local mass flow rates as high as $\dot{M} = 10^{-5} M_{\odot}$ yr$^{-1}$.