Beta Pictoris and other Solar Systems

Abstract

Abstract. Planetary systems come in a bewildering variety of shapes and sizes. In addition to the exoplanetary systems with giant planets, found in surveys of stellar radial velocity variations, an overlapping class of dusty disk-containing solar systems exists. The disks include large quantities of meteoroids and dust, and a varying complement of gas. Their solid material represents 'replenished' dust born in the collisions/sublimation of planetesimals perturbed by planets. We present several such systems, including HR 4796A, HD 141569, HD 100546, and the prototypical replenished disk of Beta Pictoris. We discuss the composition, physical processing, and migration of dust in the disks, their evolutionary status, and the evidence of embedded planets.