JWST/MIRI Imaging of the Warm Dust Component of the Epsilon Eridani Debris Disk

JWST/MIRI Imaging of the Warm Dust Component of the Epsilon Eridani Debris Disk
Schuyler G. Wolff, Andr’as G’asp’ar, George Rieke, Jarron M. Leisenring, Antranik A. Sefilian, Marie Ygouf, Jorge Llop-Sayson
arXiv:2509.24976v2 Announce Type: replace
Abstract: We present JWST/MIRI observations of the debris disk surrounding the nearby, solar analog Epsilon Eridani obtained as part of the Archetypal Debris Disk GTO program. Multi-wavelength images from 15, 18, 21, and 25.5 $mu m$ show a smooth dust distribution with no evidence of sculpting by massive planets outside of 5 au. Maps of the color temperature and opacity constrain the dust properties while radiative transfer modeling of a warm dust component traces the interaction between the debris disk and Epsilon Eri b ($sim$3.5 au). Dynamical and collisional modeling further shows that the disk morphology is dominated by dust produced in the outer planetesimal belt ($sim 70 , au$) moving inward via stellar wind drag. We confirm the presence of a disk interior to the Epsilon Eri b orbit first detected from mid-IR interferometry. Drag dominated inner disk regions have also been observed around Vega and Fomalhaut hinting at the diversity of asteroid belt analogs.arXiv:2509.24976v2 Announce Type: replace
Abstract: We present JWST/MIRI observations of the debris disk surrounding the nearby, solar analog Epsilon Eridani obtained as part of the Archetypal Debris Disk GTO program. Multi-wavelength images from 15, 18, 21, and 25.5 $mu m$ show a smooth dust distribution with no evidence of sculpting by massive planets outside of 5 au. Maps of the color temperature and opacity constrain the dust properties while radiative transfer modeling of a warm dust component traces the interaction between the debris disk and Epsilon Eri b ($sim$3.5 au). Dynamical and collisional modeling further shows that the disk morphology is dominated by dust produced in the outer planetesimal belt ($sim 70 , au$) moving inward via stellar wind drag. We confirm the presence of a disk interior to the Epsilon Eri b orbit first detected from mid-IR interferometry. Drag dominated inner disk regions have also been observed around Vega and Fomalhaut hinting at the diversity of asteroid belt analogs.