Structure and SEDs of protoplanetary disks : Effects of dust shape

Abstract

We have modeled the density and temperature profiles as well as the spectral energy distributions of protoplanetary disks, taking into account the fractal structure of dust grains. As a result of comparing the models for the dust particles of fractal aggregates and compact spheres, we have found that if the disk consists of 3 micron-sized dust particles, the temperature at the disk surface is higher in the model of the fractal aggregates, which results in stronger dust continuum emission.