https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/20134607001
Instabilities at planetary gap edges in 3D self-gravitating disks
Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics,
60 St. George
Street, Toronto,
Ontario, M5S 3H8,
Canada
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Abstract
Numerical simulations are presented to study the stability of gaps opened by giant planets in 3D self-gravitating disks. In weakly self-gravitating disks, a few vortices develop at the gap edge and merge on orbital time-scales. The result is one large but weak vortex with Rossby number -0.01. In moderately self-gravitating disks, more vortices develop and their merging is resisted on dynamical time-scales. Self-gravity can sustain multi-vortex configurations, with Rossby number -0.2 to -0.1, over a time-scale of order 100 orbits. Self-gravity also enhances the vortex vertical density stratification, even in disks with initial Toomre parameter of order 10. However, vortex formation is suppressed in strongly self-gravitating disks and replaced by a global spiral instability associated with the gap edge which develops during gap formation.
© Owned by the authors, published by EDP Sciences, 2013
