A Complete ALMA Map of the Fomalhaut Debris Disk

A Complete ALMA Map of the Fomalhaut Debris Disk

Authors:

MacGregor et al

Abstract:

We present ALMA mosaic observations at 1.3 mm (223 GHz) of the Fomalhaut system with a sensitivity of 14 μJy/beam. These observations provide the first millimeter map of the continuum dust emission from the complete outer debris disk with uniform sensitivity, enabling the first conclusive detection of apocenter glow. We adopt a MCMC modeling approach that accounts for the eccentric orbital parameters of a collection of particles within the disk. The outer belt is radially confined with an inner edge of 136.3±0.9 AU and width of 13.5±1.8 AU. We determine a best-fit eccentricity of 0.12±0.01. Assuming a size distribution power law index of q=3.46±0.09, we constrain the dust absorptivity power law index β to be 0.9<β<1.5. The geometry of the disk is robustly constrained with inclination 65.∘6±0.∘3, position angle 337.∘9±0.∘3, and argument of periastron 22.∘5±4.∘3. Our observations do not confirm any of the azimuthal features found in previous imaging studies of the disk with HST, SCUBA, and ALMA. However, we cannot rule out structures ≤10AU in size or which only affect smaller grains. The central star is clearly detected with a flux density of 0.75±0.02 mJy, significantly lower than predicted by current photospheric models. We discuss the implications of these observations for the directly imaged Fomalhaut b and the inner dust belt detected at infrared wavelengths.