J/A+A/708/A143 ALMA star forming regions observations (Bosschaart+, 2026)
Gaps and rings: a near-universal trait of extended protoplanetary discs.
Bosschaart Q., Guerra-Alvarado O.M., van der Marel N., Mulders G.D.
<Astron. Astrophys. 708, A143 (2026)>
=2026A&A...708A.143B 2026A&A...708A.143B (SIMBAD/NED BibCode)
ADC_Keywords: Star Forming Region ; YSOs ; Millimetric/submm sources;
Stars, masses
Keywords: planets and satellites: formation - protoplanetary discs -
planet-disc interactions
Abstract:
Substructures such as rings, gaps, and cavities are commonly observed
in protoplanetary discs and are thought to play a key role in dust
evolution and planet formation. However, a fraction of the extended
discs (68% dust radii >30AU) in nearby star-forming regions remain
unresolved, leaving their substructure content uncertain and thereby
limiting our understanding of dust evolution and the initial
conditions for planet formation across the full disc population.
We aim to investigate the presence of substructures in previously
unresolved, extended discs to assess whether all extended
protoplanetary discs in the solar neighbourhood exhibit substructures.
This enables a statistical evaluation of substructure occurrence among
protoplanetary discs and provides statistical constraints for disc
evolution models and comparisons with exoplanet populations.
We present new high-resolution (∼0.12") ALMA (Atacama Large
Millimeter/submillimeter Array) Band 6 continuum observations at
1.33mm of 26 previously unresolved, extended discs within 200pc. This
completes the sample of high-resolution observations of extended discs
in the nearby star-forming regions Taurus, Ophiuchus, Chamaeleon,
Lupus, Upper Scorpius, Upper Centaurus-Lupus, and Lower
Centaurus-Crux. We analysed radial intensity profiles using
Frankenstein and Galario to detect substructures.
Seventeen discs show clear substructures, while nine appear compact
and structureless, smooth, or ambiguous due to inclination or possible
binarity or late-stage infall. We detect 12CO J=2-1 emission in 15
discs, where extended CO emission is observed in four discs. Combined
with literature data, our complete sample of 730 protoplanetary discs
reveals that nearly all extended discs exhibit substructures, ∼91%
detected in the full sample, and up to ∼98% when correcting for
high-inclination systems where substructures may be hidden.
Substructures are a near-universal feature of extended protoplanetary
discs. Substructures are more commonly detected and, it is proposed,
more prevalent in larger, massive discs and around higher-mass stars,
and structured discs retain their dust mass over time. This is
consistent with the hypothesis that dust traps, possibly induced by
giant planets, are key in shaping the dust disc morphologies.
Description:
We present new high-resolution (∼0.12") ALMA Band 6 continuum
observations at 1.33mm of 26 previously unresolved extended
protoplanetary discs within 200pc. These observations complete the
sample of high-resolution data for extended discs in nearby
star-forming regions including Taurus, Ophiuchus, Chamaeleon, Lupus,
Upper Scorpius, Upper Centaurus-Lupus, and Lower Centaurus-Crux.
Radial intensity profiles were analysed to identify substructures such
as rings and gaps. Combined with literature data, the full sample
contains 730 protoplanetary discs. The results indicate that
substructures are nearly ubiquitous among extended discs, supporting
scenarios in which dust traps play a key role in disc evolution and
planet formation.
This catalogue contains a compilation of protoplanetary disc
properties collected from ALMA continuum surveys and literature
sources. The sample includes discs in several nearby star-forming
regions. For each source we list stellar properties, millimetre
continuum flux densities, derived dust masses, and characteristic disc
radii. The disc radius corresponds to the 68% effective dust radius
derived from the curve-of-growth method. Disc morphology
classifications are provided where available.
File Summary:
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FileName Lrecl Records Explanations
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ReadMe 80 . This file
tabled1.dat 132 730 Full disc sample
refs.dat 68 61 References
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Byte-by-byte Description of file: tabled1.dat
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bytes Format Units Label Explanations
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1- 10 A10 --- SFR Star-forming region
12- 33 A22 --- Name Target identifier
36- 40 F5.1 pc Dist ? Distance
41 A1 --- f_Dist [*] Flag on Dist (2)
43 A1 --- l_Fcont Limit flag on Fcont
44- 50 F7.2 mJy Fcont ? Millimetre continuum flux (1.33mm)
52 I1 --- Band ? ALMA observing band
54 A1 --- l_Mdust Limit flag on Mdust
55- 60 F6.2 Mgeo Mdust ?=- Dust mass (Earth masses)
62- 66 A5 --- SpType Stellar spectral type
68- 71 F4.2 Msun Mass ? Stellar mass
73 A1 --- l_R68 Limit flag on R68
74- 76 I3 au R68 ? 68% effective dust radius (3)
78- 80 A3 --- Class Disc morphology class (1)
82- 83 I2 --- Ref1 ? Reference for stellar properties
85- 86 I2 --- Ref2 ? Reference for ALMA data
88- 89 I2 --- Ref3 ? Additional reference
91-112 A22 --- SName SIMBAD object name
114-122 F9.5 deg RAdeg Right ascension (ICRS)
124-132 F9.5 deg DEdeg Declination (ICRS)
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Note (1): Disc classes are defined as follows:
CD = Compact disc
ED = Extended disc
RD = Ring disc
TD = Transition disc
HID = Highly inclined disc
ND = Non-detection
Note (2): * for targets with no parallax measurement from Gaia DR2 or DR3.
For these targets, the average distance to the cloud is assumed.
Note (3): R68 corresponds to the radius enclosing 68% of the dust
continuum emission derived from the curve-of-growth method.
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Byte-by-byte Description of file: refs.dat
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bytes Format Units Label Explanations
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1- 2 I2 --- Ref Reference number
4- 22 A19 --- BibCode BibCode
24- 46 A23 --- Aut Author's name
48- 68 A21 --- Com Comments
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Acknowledgements:
Quincy Bosschaart, quincybosschaart(at)gmail.com
License: CC-BY-4.0 [see https://spdx.org/licenses/]
(End) Patricia Vannier [CDS] 24-Mar-2026