The Study of Debris Disks with SPICA

Department of Astrophysics, CAB - CSIC/INTA, 28850 Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain

Abstract

Debris disks are evidence that stars harbor reservoirs of dust-producing planetesimals on spatial scales similar to the solar system. Debris disks present a wide range of sizes and structural features and there is growing evidence that, in some cases, they might be the result of the dynamical perturbations of a massive planet. Our solar system also harbors a debris disk and some of its properties resemble those of extra-solar debris disks. This contribution discusses how the study of debris disks with SPICA can shed light on the diversity of planetary systems, the link between debris disks and planets and the link between extra-solar planetary systems and our own.