Protoplanetary Disk Winds by Magnetorotational Instability : Formation of an Inner Hole and a Crucial Assist for Planet Formation

Abstract

By constructing a global model based on 3D local magnetohydrodynamical (MHD) simulations, we show that the disk wind driven by magnetorotational instability (MRI) plays a significant role in the dispersal of the gas component of proto-planetary disks. Because the mass loss time scale by the MRI-driven disk winds is proportional to the local Keplerian rotation period, a gas disk dynamically evaporates from the inner region with possibly creating a gradually expanding inner hole, while a sizable amount of the gas remains in the outer region. The disk wind is highly time-dependent with quasi-periodicity of several times Keplerian rotation period at each radius, which will be observed as time-variability of protostar-protoplanetary disk systems. These features persistently hold even if a dead zone exists because the disk winds are driven from the surface regions where ionizing cosmic rays and high energy photons can penetrate. Moreover, the predicted inside-out clearing significantly suppresses the infall of boulders to a central star and the Type I migration of proto-planets which are favorable for the formation and survival of planets.

16 pages, 18 figures embedded, comments welcome, ApJ in press, The resolution of figures are reduced. The original version is at http://www.ta.phys.nagoya-u.ac.jp/stakeru/paper/paper_dspppds200916.pdf