The formation of transiting circumplanetary debris discs from the disruption of satellite systems during planet-planet scattering
arxiv(2024)
Abstract
Several stars show deep transits consistent with discs of roughly 1 Solar
radius seen at moderate inclinations, likely surrounding planets on eccentric
orbits. We show that this configuration arises naturally as a result of
planet-planet scattering when the planets possess satellite systems.
Planet-planet scattering explains the orbital eccentricities of the discs' host
bodies, while the close encounters during scattering lead to the exchange of
satellites between planets and/or their destabilisation. This leads to
collisions between satellites and their tidal disruption close to the planet.
Both of these events lead to large quantities of debris being produced, which
in time will settle into a disc such as those observed. The mass of debris
required is comparable to a Ceres-sized satellite. Through N-body simulations
of planets with clones of the Galilean satellite system undergoing scattering,
we show that 90 percent of planets undergoing scattering will possess debris
from satellite destruction. Extrapolating to smaller numbers of satellites
suggests that tens of percent of such planets should still possess
circumplanetary debris discs. The debris trails arising from these events are
often tilted at tens of degrees to the planetary orbit, consistent with the
inclinations of the observed discs. Disruption of satellite systems during
scattering thus simultaneously explains the existence of debris, the tilt of
the discs, and the eccentricity of the planets they orbit.
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