Global calculations of density waves and gap formation in protoplanetary disks using a moving Mesh

Paul C. Duffell, Andrew I. MacFadyen

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    We calculate the global quasi-steady state of a thin disk perturbed by a low-mass protoplanet orbiting at a fixed radius using extremely high resolution numerical integrations of Euler's equations in two dimensions. The calculations are carried out using a moving computational domain, which greatly reduces advection errors and allows for much longer time steps than a fixed grid. We calculate the angular momentum flux and the torque density as a function of radius and compare them with analytical predictions. We discuss the quasi-steady state after 100 orbits and the prospects for gap formation by low-mass planets.

    Original languageEnglish (US)
    Article number7
    JournalAstrophysical Journal
    Volume755
    Issue number1
    DOIs
    StatePublished - Aug 10 2012

    Keywords

    • hydrodynamics
    • methods: numerical
    • planet-disk interactions
    • planets and satellites: formation
    • protoplanetary disks

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Astronomy and Astrophysics
    • Space and Planetary Science

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