Using Intermediate-Luminosity Optical Transients (ILOTs) to reveal extended extra-solar Kuiper belt objects

TL;DR

This paper proposes that Intermediate-Luminosity Optical Transients (ILOTs) can be used to detect and study distant extra-solar Kuiper belt objects through IR emission caused by dust ejected during evaporation events.

Contribution

It introduces a novel method to detect and analyze extra-solar Kuiper belt objects using IR signatures following ILOT events, expanding observational possibilities.

Findings

IR excess emission can indicate the presence of ExtraKBOs after ILOTs.

Detection of dust ejected from ExtraKBOs is feasible within months to years post-ILOT.

Extended periods of IR excess may reveal Kuiper belt analogs around other stars.

Abstract

We suggest that in the rare case of an Intermediate-Luminosity Optical Transient (ILOTs) event, evaporation of extra-solar Kuiper belt objects (ExtraKBOs) at distances of d ~ 500 - 10000AU from the ILOT can be detected. If the ILOT lasts for 1 month to a few years, enough dust might be ejected from the ExtraKBOs for the IR emission to be detected. Because of the large distance of the ExtraKBOs, tens of years will pass before the ILOT wind disperses the dust. We suggest that after an ILOT outburst there is a period of months to several years during which IR excess emission might hint at the existence of a Kuiper belt analog (ExtraK-Belt).