Mind the kinematics simulation of planet-disk interactions: time evolution and numerical resolution

TL;DR

This study uses 3D hydrodynamic simulations to analyze how planet-induced kinematic signatures in protoplanetary disks evolve over time and depend on numerical resolution, aiding interpretation of observational data.

Contribution

It demonstrates the importance of simulation duration and resolution in accurately modeling and detecting planet-induced kinematic features in disks.

Findings

Short simulations show transient velocity features, not steady patterns.

Long simulations (around 1,000 orbits) reveal stable, detectable spiral wake structures.

Hydrodynamic results converge at 14 cells per scale height or higher.

Abstract

Planet-disk interactions can produce kinematic signatures in protoplanetary disks. While recent observations have detected non-Keplerian gas motions in disks, their origins are still being debated. To explore this, we conduct 3D hydrodynamic simulations using the code FARGO3D to study non-axisymmetric kinematic perturbations at 2 scale heights induced by Jovian planets in protoplanetary disks, followed by examinations of detectable signals in synthetic CO emission line observations at millimeter wavelengths. We advocate for using residual velocity or channel maps, generated by subtracting an azimuthally averaged background of the disk, to identify planet-induced kinematic perturbations. We investigate the effects of two basic simulation parameters, simulation duration and numerical resolution, on the simulation results. Our findings suggest that a short simulation (e.g., 100 orbits) is insufficient to establish a steady velocity pattern given our chosen viscosity ($\alpha=10^{-3}$), and displays plenty of fluctuations on orbital timescale. Such transient features could be detected in observations. By contrast, a long simulation (e.g., 1,000 orbits) is required to reach steady state in kinematic structures. At 1,000 orbits, the strongest and detectable velocity structures are found in the spiral wakes close to the planet. Through numerical convergence tests, we find hydrodynamics results converge in spiral regions at a resolution of 14 cells per disk scale height (CPH) or higher. Meanwhile, synthetic observations produced from hydrodynamic simulations at different resolutions are indistinguishable with 0.1$^{\prime\prime}$ angular resolution and 10 hours of integration time on ALMA.