Millimeter Imaging of the β Pictoris Debris Disk: Evidence for a Planetesimal Belt

Abstract

We present observations at 1.3 mm wavelength of the β Pictoris debris disk with beam size 4farcs3 × 2farcs6 (83 × 50 AU) from the Submillimeter Array. The emission shows two peaks separated by ~7'' along the disk plane, which we interpret as a highly inclined dust ring or belt. A simple model constrains the belt center to 94 ± 8 AU, close to the prominent break in slope of the optical scattered light. We identify this region as the location of the main reservoir of dust-producing planetesimals in the disk.