Focal Interest
Focal Interest
AI Summary of Peer-Reviewed Research

This page presents an AI-generated summary of a published research paper. The original authors did not write or review this article. [See full disclosure ↓]

Publishing process signals: STRONG — reflects the venue and review process. — venue and review process.

Large protoplanetary disks show widespread non-Keplerian gas motions

A composite image showing a spiral galaxy with a bright central core surrounded by swirling dust lanes, with surrounding panels displaying heat maps, temperature visualizations, a planet, and a data graph with arrows indicating rotational patterns.
Research area:AstrophysicsAstronomy and AstrophysicsStellar, planetary, and galactic studies

What the study found

Large protoplanetary disks in the exoALMA sample commonly show deviations from smooth Keplerian rotation, and these deviations appear in several different forms. The authors report spiral-like structures, arc- or ring-like features, and patterns consistent with changes in the emitting surface height.

Why the authors say this matters

The study suggests that deviations from Keplerian rotation in disk gas kinematics are key tracers of physical processes and the presence of protoplanets within disks. The authors conclude that their 2D atlas provides a first systematic and uniform overview of gas substructures across the full exoALMA sample.

What the researchers tested

The researchers used CO (carbon monoxide) J = 3–2 data from the exoALMA Large Program, covering 15 disks. They built two-dimensional maps of centroid velocity, line width, and peak intensity, then extracted non-Keplerian deviations by subtracting smooth Keplerian models.

What worked and what didn't

All targets showed large-scale deviations from smooth Keplerian disks. Nonaxisymmetric spiral-arm features were detected or suggested in five disks: CQ Tau, MWC 758, HD 135344B, HD 34282, and SY Cha, and these were preferentially found in Herbig Ae/Fe systems. Some other sources, including J1852, PDS 66, and V4046 Sgr, also showed noticeable deviations but appeared to be dynamically quieter.

What to keep in mind

The summary is based only on the abstract, so no detailed limitations are described here. The authors note that the atlas is based on observations with sufficient sensitivity, moderate-to-high spatial resolution of about 20 au, and high-velocity resolution of about 0.1 km s−1, and the sample consists of 15 disks aged a few million years.

Key points

  • All 15 disks showed large-scale deviations from smooth Keplerian rotation.
  • The deviations included spiral-like, arc- or ring-like, and surface-height-related patterns.
  • Spiral-arm features were detected or suggested in five disks: CQ Tau, MWC 758, HD 135344B, HD 34282, and SY Cha.
  • Spiral-arm features were preferentially found in Herbig Ae/Fe systems.
  • Some sources, including J1852, PDS 66, and V4046 Sgr, appeared dynamically quieter despite noticeable deviations.

Disclosure

Research title:
Large protoplanetary disks show widespread non-Keplerian gas motions
Authors:
Misato Fukagawa, Andrés F. Izquierdo, Jochen Stadler, Lisa Wölfer, Maria Galloway-Sprietsma, Ryuta Orihara, Masataka Aizawa, Munetake Momose, Daniele Fasano, Myriam Benisty, Richard Teague, Stefano Facchini, C. Pinte, Sean M. Andrews, J. Bae, Marcelo Barraza-Alfaro, Gianni Cataldi, Pietro Curone, Ian Czekala, Mario Flock, H.P. Garg, Cassandra Hall, Jane Huang, John D. Ilee, Jensen Lawrence, Geoffroy Lesur, G. Lodato, Cristiano Longarini, Ryan A. Loomis, François Ménard, Daniel J. Price, Giovanni Rosotti, Hsi-Wei Yen, Tomohiro C. Yoshida, Gaylor Wafflard-Fernandez, David J. Wilner, Andrew J. Winter, Brianna Zawadzki
Institutions:
Center for Astrophysics Harvard & Smithsonian, Center for Astrophysics Harvard & Smithsonian, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Columbia University, European Southern Observatory, Ibaraki University, Ibaraki University, Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Academia Sinica, Leiden University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, Monash University, Monash University, Monash University, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur, Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur, Queen Mary University of London, Saga University, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI, The University of Tokyo, Tohoku University, Université Côte d'Azur, Université Grenoble Alpes, Université Grenoble Alpes, Université Grenoble Alpes, Université Grenoble Alpes, University of Cambridge, University of Chile, University of Florida, University of Florida, University of Florida, University of Georgia, University of Leeds, University of Milan, University of Milan, University of Milan, University of Milan, University of St Andrews, Wesleyan University
Publication date:
2026-03-16
DOI:
10.3847/2041-8213/ae3dc2
OpenAlex record:
View
AI provenance: This post was generated by OpenAI. The original authors did not write or review this post.

More posts