What migration mechanism involves a planet carving a gap in the disk and spiraling inward due to angular momentum transfer?

Answer

Type II migration.

Type II migration is the classical explanation involving interaction with the protoplanetary disk where the planet loses orbital energy by transferring angular momentum to the surrounding gas and dust.

What migration mechanism involves a planet carving a gap in the disk and spiraling inward due to angular momentum transfer?
astronomyexoplanetsHot Jupitersorbits