Skip to content

On the wake generated by a planet in a disc

G. I. Ogilvie, S. H. Lubow

astro-pharXiv:astro-ph/0111265

Abstract

A planet of low mass orbiting in a two-dimensional gaseous disc generates a one-armed spiral wake. We explain this phenomenon as the result of constructive interference between wave modes in the disc, somewhat similar to the Kelvin wedge produced in the wake of a ship. The same feature is not expected in a three-dimensional disc with thermal stratification.

Create a lesson