How to Detect Exosolar Kuiper Belt Objects Through Intermediate-Luminosity Optical Transients

Using Intermediate-Luminosity Optical Transients (ILOTs) to reveal extended exo-solar Kuiper belt objects

Authors:

Bear et al

Abstract:

We suggest that in the rare case of an Intermediate-Luminosity Optical Transient (ILOTs) event, evaporation of exo-solar Kuiper belt objects (ExoKBOs) at distances of d~500 - 10000AU from the ILOT can be detected. If the ILOT lasts for 1 month to a few years, enough dust might be ejected from the ExoKBOs for the IR emission to be detected. Because of the large distance of the ExoKBOs, tens of years will pass before the ILOT wind disperses the dust. We suggest that after an ILOT outburst there is a period of months to several years during which IR excess emission might hint at the existence of a Kuiper belt analog (ExoK-Belt).