Characterizing thermal sweeping: a rapid disc dispersal mechanism

ORAL

Abstract

Protoplanetary discs form from the remnants of the accretion discs left over after star formation. Inside these discs, planets and other planetary objects are formed. To constrain timescales of planet formation, an important area of research is in protoplanetary disc dissipation. We study the photoevaporation of discs in their late lifetimes, in particular a dynamically short period of intense dissipation called thermal sweeping, ending in the destruction of the disc. This mechanism is proposed to occur when the inner edge of the disc reaches a sufficiently low surface density, and the disc is dynamically unstable to runaway x-ray penetration. We present numerical simulations that show thermal sweeping has a linear x-ray luminosity dependence, and we discuss the critical surface density for the process to occur.

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Authors

  • Mathias Hudoba de Badyn

    University of British Columbia

  • William H. Dowd

    Oregon State University, University of Washington, University of Hong Kong, University of Tennessee, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, University of British Columbia, Univ of Washington, Univ of Cambridge, Michigan State University, Universit\'e de Caen, Argonne National Laboratory, Texas A\&M University -Commerce, Texas A\&M University, Department of Physics, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho 83844, USA, Universidad de Salamanca, E-37008 Salamanca, Spain, Department of Physics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306, USA, University of Cambridge, Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics, University of Toronto, Seoul National University, Chungnam National University, Department of Physics, Oregon State University, TRIUMF, Roosevelt High School, Department of Physics, University of Washington, Oregon State Department of Chemistry, Oregon State School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Oregon State Department of Physics, University of Idaho, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Idaho National Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Department of Chemistry, Oregon State University, School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Oregon State University, Washington State University, Harvard University, Idaho Accelerator Center, Idaho Accelerator Center, Idaho State University, 1500 Alvin Ricken drive, Pocatello, ID 83201, USA, CENPA, University of Washington, Physics Division, ANL, NSCL, Michigan State University, Division, ANL, LPC, CAEN, France, Paul Scherrer Institute, US Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA, 20192, USA, University of Calgary Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Calgary Department of Geoscience, None, University of the Fraser Valley, Univ of California, Berkeley, Simon Fraser University, Los Alamos Natl. Lab., University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, U of Washington, Georgia Institute of Technology, Washington State Univ, National Institute of Standards and Technology and University of Maryland, American University

  • William H. Dowd

    Oregon State University, University of Washington, University of Hong Kong, University of Tennessee, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, University of British Columbia, Univ of Washington, Univ of Cambridge, Michigan State University, Universit\'e de Caen, Argonne National Laboratory, Texas A\&M University -Commerce, Texas A\&M University, Department of Physics, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho 83844, USA, Universidad de Salamanca, E-37008 Salamanca, Spain, Department of Physics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306, USA, University of Cambridge, Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics, University of Toronto, Seoul National University, Chungnam National University, Department of Physics, Oregon State University, TRIUMF, Roosevelt High School, Department of Physics, University of Washington, Oregon State Department of Chemistry, Oregon State School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Oregon State Department of Physics, University of Idaho, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Idaho National Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Department of Chemistry, Oregon State University, School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Oregon State University, Washington State University, Harvard University, Idaho Accelerator Center, Idaho Accelerator Center, Idaho State University, 1500 Alvin Ricken drive, Pocatello, ID 83201, USA, CENPA, University of Washington, Physics Division, ANL, NSCL, Michigan State University, Division, ANL, LPC, CAEN, France, Paul Scherrer Institute, US Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA, 20192, USA, University of Calgary Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Calgary Department of Geoscience, None, University of the Fraser Valley, Univ of California, Berkeley, Simon Fraser University, Los Alamos Natl. Lab., University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, U of Washington, Georgia Institute of Technology, Washington State Univ, National Institute of Standards and Technology and University of Maryland, American University

  • William H. Dowd

    Oregon State University, University of Washington, University of Hong Kong, University of Tennessee, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, University of British Columbia, Univ of Washington, Univ of Cambridge, Michigan State University, Universit\'e de Caen, Argonne National Laboratory, Texas A\&M University -Commerce, Texas A\&M University, Department of Physics, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho 83844, USA, Universidad de Salamanca, E-37008 Salamanca, Spain, Department of Physics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306, USA, University of Cambridge, Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics, University of Toronto, Seoul National University, Chungnam National University, Department of Physics, Oregon State University, TRIUMF, Roosevelt High School, Department of Physics, University of Washington, Oregon State Department of Chemistry, Oregon State School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Oregon State Department of Physics, University of Idaho, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Idaho National Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Department of Chemistry, Oregon State University, School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Oregon State University, Washington State University, Harvard University, Idaho Accelerator Center, Idaho Accelerator Center, Idaho State University, 1500 Alvin Ricken drive, Pocatello, ID 83201, USA, CENPA, University of Washington, Physics Division, ANL, NSCL, Michigan State University, Division, ANL, LPC, CAEN, France, Paul Scherrer Institute, US Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA, 20192, USA, University of Calgary Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Calgary Department of Geoscience, None, University of the Fraser Valley, Univ of California, Berkeley, Simon Fraser University, Los Alamos Natl. Lab., University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, U of Washington, Georgia Institute of Technology, Washington State Univ, National Institute of Standards and Technology and University of Maryland, American University