Self-Sustained Recycling in the Inner Dust Ring of Pre-Transitional Disks

TL;DR

This paper proposes a recycling mechanism for the inner dust ring in pre-transitional disks, where dust and pebbles drift, grow, and are destroyed in a steady cycle driven by radiation pressure and photophoresis.

Contribution

It introduces a novel steady-state recycling process for dust in pre-transitional disks that does not require external dust sources.

Findings

The recycling mechanism can maintain the dust ring without external replenishment.

Simulation results support the viability of the proposed steady-state cycle.

Growth and drift timescales are comparable, enabling a stable dust ring.

Abstract

Observations of pre-transitional disks show a narrow inner dust ring and a larger outer one. They are separated by a cavity with no or only little dust. We propose an efficient recycling mechanism for the inner dust ring which keeps it in a steady-state. No major particle sources are needed for replenishment. Dust particles and pebbles drift outwards by radiation pressure and photophoresis. The pebbles grow during outward drift until they reach a balanced position where residual gravity compensates photophoresis. While still growing larger they reverse their motion and drift inwards. Eventually, their speed is fast enough that they get destroyed in collisions with other pebbles and drift outwards again. We quantify the force balance and drift velocities for the disks LkCa15 and HD135344B. We simulate single particle evolution and show that this scenario is viable. Growth and drift timescales are on the same order and a steady state can be established in the inner dust ring.