Dust distribution in circumstellar disks harboring multi-planet systems

II. Super-thermal-mass planets

¹ Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia “G. Galilei”, Università degli Studi di Padova, Vicolo dell’Osservatorio 3, 35122 Padova, Italy
² Universitäts-Sternwarte, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Scheinerstr. 1, München, 81679 Bayern, Germany
³ Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia “G.Galilei”, Università degli Studi di Padova, Via Marzolo 8, 35121 Padova, Italy

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Received: 15 January 2026
Accepted: 5 March 2026

Abstract

Context. Theoretical formation models and exoplanet detection surveys indicate that systems with multiple giant planets are common.

Aims. We investigate how multiple super-thermal-mass planets embedded in a circumstellar disk shape the dust distribution and examine the consequences for interpreting disk substructures and inferring planetary properties.

Methods. We performed two-dimensional hydrodynamical simulations with a modified PLUTO code, treating dust as Lagrangian particles in a wide range of sizes. We analyzed systems with two planets of different masses and orbital separations, comparing them to the single-planet scenario. We generated synthetic ALMA continuum maps using RADMC-3D and computed the relative impact velocities of dust particles to assess potential limitations to grain growth.

Results. Dust morphologies in multi-planet systems cannot be described as a simple superposition of single-planet gaps. Secular planetary perturbations can generate multiple dust traps and asymmetric structures, while also exciting significant eccentricities in dust particle orbits. As a consequence, the locations and widths of dust rings and gaps depend on the size of the particles, the masses of the planet, and the orbital configurations. Synthetic continuum images may hide gaps carved by multiple planets, thereby complicating the interpretation of observed substructures. In addition, eccentricities induced in dust orbits lead to stronger gas drag, reducing the Stokes number for a given particle size, and the enhanced relative velocities associated with eccentric orbits can further suppress grain growth, promoting fragmentation and replenishment of small dust grains.