Two accreting protoplanets around the young star PDS 70

TL;DR

This study reports the detection of two accreting protoplanets around the star PDS 70 using H-alpha emission, providing insights into planet formation and resonance dynamics in young planetary systems.

Contribution

First direct detection of two accreting protoplanets in the PDS 70 system using H-alpha spectroscopy, confirming ongoing accretion and potential resonance.

Findings

Detection of H-alpha emission from two protoplanets.

Both protoplanets show signs of ongoing accretion.

Protoplanets appear to be near a 2:1 mean motion resonance.

Abstract

Newly forming proto-planets are expected to create cavities and substructures in young, gas-rich proto-planetary disks, but they are difficult to detect as they could be confused with disk features affected by advanced image-analysis techniques. Recently, a planet was discovered inside the gap of the transitional disk of the T-Tauri star PDS 70. Here we report on the detection of strong H-alpha emission from two distinct locations in the PDS 70 system, one corresponding to the previously discovered planet PDS 70 b, which confirms the earlier H$\alpha$ detection, and another located close to the outer-edge of the gap, coinciding with a previously identified bright dust spot in the disk and with a small opening in a ring of molecular emission. We identify this second H$\alpha$ peak as a second proto-planet in the PDS 70 system. The H$\alpha$ emission spectra of both proto-planets indicate ongoing accretion onto the proto-planets, which appear to be near a 2:1 mean motion resonance. Our observations show that adaptive-optics-assisted, medium-resolution, integral-field spectroscopy with MUSE targeting accretion signatures will be a powerful way to trace ongoing planet formation in transitional disks at different stages of their evolution. Finding more young planetary systems in mean motion resonance would give credibility to the Grand Tack hypothesis in which Jupiter and Saturn migrated in a resonance orbit during the early formation period of our Solar System.