V1094 Sco disk shows planet-driven and gravitationally formed rings

Star system: V1094 Scorpii | Distance from the Sun: 505 light years

V1094 Sco is a large protoplanetary disk that displays several pairs of rings and gaps far from its central star. Using high-resolution images from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array and the Very Large Telescope, researchers studied the disk's structure in detail. The dust in the disk forms four narrow ring-gap pairs at large distances, while gas traced by carbon monoxide extends even farther and moves in a pattern called Keplerian rotation, which means it orbits the star following the same rules as planets in our solar system.

The widths of the dust rings suggest that turbulence in the disk is weak. This is important because turbulence can mix material and affect how planets form. The pattern of rings and gaps does not fit the idea that each gap is made by a separate planet. Instead, at one location, a double gap and its matching feature in scattered light can be explained by a single low-mass planet. In the outer part of the disk, the rings are evenly spaced and do not show up in scattered light, which suggests a different process is at work. Here, the rings are likely formed by a process called secular gravitational instability, where dust slowly gathers into rings over time.

This study shows that both planet formation and gravitational effects can shape the structure of a protoplanetary disk. The findings help explain how planets and rings can form together in young star systems like V1094 Sco.

Key findings
- V1094 Sco disk has four ring-gap pairs at large distances from the star.
- Weak turbulence is indicated by the narrowness of the dust rings.
- A double gap is likely caused by a single low-mass planet.
- Outer rings are consistent with secular gravitational instability, not planets.
- Both planet-driven and gravitational processes shape the disk's structure.

Scientific study

A Hybrid Origin for the Multiple Ring-Gap Structures in the Large Protoplanetary Disk V1094 Sco: A Low-Mass Planet and Secular Gravitational Instability (external link)