On the nature of veiling of classical T Tauri stars spectra in the near-IR spectral band

It is shown that the existence of a hot accretion spot on the surface of classical T Tauri stars allows to explain observed veiling of their photospheric spectrum not only in the visible but also in the near infrared spectral band.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy Letter

Quasioptical modeling of wave beams with and without mode conversion: III. Numerical simulations of mode-converting beams

This work continues a series of papers where we propose an algorithm for quasioptical modeling of electromagnetic beams with and without mode conversion. The general theory was reported in the first paper of this series, where a parabolic partial differential equation was derived for the field envelope that may contain one or multiple modes with close group velocities. In the second paper, we presented a corresponding code PARADE (PAraxial RAy DEscription) and its test applications to single-mode beams. Here, we report quasioptical simulations of mode-converting beams for the first time. We also demonstrate that PARADE can model splitting of two-mode beams. The numerical results produced by PARADE show good agreement with those of one-dimensional full-wave simulations and also with conventional ray tracing (to the extent that one-dimensional and ray-tracing simulations are applicable)

Mode conversion in cold low-density plasma with a sheared magnetic field

A theory is proposed that describes mutual conversion of two electromagnetic modes in cold low-density plasma, specifically, in the high-frequency limit where the ion response is negligible. In contrast to the classic (Landau--Zener-type) theory of mode conversion, the region of resonant coupling in low-density plasma is not necessarily narrow, so the coupling matrix cannot be approximated with its first-order Taylor expansion; also, the initial conditions are set up differently. For the case of strong magnetic shear, a simple method is identified for preparing a two-mode wave such that it transforms into a single-mode wave upon entering high-density plasma. The theory can be used for reduced modeling of wave-power input in fusion plasmas. In particular, applications are envisioned in stellarator research, where the mutual conversion of two electromagnetic modes near the plasma edge is a known issue

Results of magnetic field measurements in young stars DO Tau, DR Tau, DS Tau

Results of measurements of the longitudinal magnetic field in a hot accretion spot in three classical T Tauri stars (CTTS) are presented. The magnetic field in the formation region of the narrow component of the emission line HeI 5876 {\AA} was found for each star in our sample at a level of more than 2\sigma. In case of DS Tau we have found the field in the narrow components of NaI D lines, which was equal to +0.8 \pm 0.3 kG, i.e. it was equal to the field measured on the narrow component of HeI 5876 \AA. Our results indicate that the magnetic field in the hot spots can be studied for CTTS down to 13^m that allow in the future to double a number of CTTS with measured field in the accretion zone.Comment: 12 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in Astrophysical Bulleti

A non-LTE modeling of narrow emission components of He and Ca lines in optical spectra of CTTS

A spectrum of a hot spot, produced by radiation of accretion shock at T Tauri star's surface, has been calculated taking into account non-LTE effects for HeI, HeII, CaI and CaII, using LTE-calculations of spot's atmospheric structure, calculated by Dodin & Lamzin (2012). Assuming that pre-shock gas number density N_0 and its velocity V_0 are the same across the accretion column, we calculated spectra of a system "star + round spot" for a set of N_0, V_0 values and parameters, which characterized the star and the spot. It has been shown that theoretical spectra with an appropriate choice of the parameters reproduce well observed veiling of photospheric absorption lines in optical band as well as profiles and intensities of so-called narrow components of HeII and CaI emission lines in spectra of 9 stars. We found that the accreted gas density N_0>10^{12} cm^{-3} for all considered stars except DK Tau. Observed spectra of 8 stars were succesfully fitted, asuming solar abundance of calcium, but it appeared possible to fit TW Hya spectrum only under assumption that calcium abundance in accreted gas was three times less than solar. We derive spot's parameters by comparison of theoretical and observed spectra, normalised to continuum level, so our results are independent on unknown value of interstellar extinction. We have found that the predicted flux in CaII lines is less than observed one, but this discrepancy can be resolved if not only high-density but also lower density gas falls onto the star. Theoretical equivalent widths as well as relative intensities of He\,I subordinate lines disagree significantly with observations, presumbly due to a number of reasons: necessity to take into account non-LTE thermal structure of upper layers of a hot spot, poorly known collisional atomic data for HeI upper levels and inhomogeneity of the hot spot.Comment: accepted by Astronomy Letter

Quasioptical modeling of wave beams with and without mode conversion: I. Basic theory

This work opens a series of papers where we develop a general quasioptical theory for mode-converting electromagnetic beams in plasma and implement it in a numerical algorithm. Here, the basic theory is introduced. We consider a general quasimonochromatic multi-component wave in a weakly inhomogeneous linear medium with no sources. For any given dispersion operator that governs the wave field, we explicitly calculate the approximate operator that governs the wave envelope $\psi$ to the second order in the geometrical-optics parameter. Then, we further simplify this envelope operator by assuming that the gradient of $\psi$ transverse to the local group velocity is much larger than the corresponding parallel gradient. This leads to a parabolic differential equation for $\psi$ ("quasioptical equation") in the basis of the geometrical-optics polarization vectors. Scalar and mode-converting vector beams are described on the same footing. We also explain how to apply this model to electromagnetic waves in general. In the next papers of this series, we report successful quasioptical modeling of radiofrequency wave beams in magnetized plasma based on this theory.Comment: This is the first part of the three-paper series that also includes arXiv:1903.01357 and arXiv:1903.0136

Quasioptical modeling of wave beams with and without mode conversion: II. Numerical simulations of single-mode beams

This work continues a series of papers where we propose an algorithm for quasioptical modeling of electromagnetic beams with and without mode conversion. The general theory was reported in the first paper of this series, where a parabolic partial differential equation was derived for the field envelope that may contain one or multiple modes with close group velocities. Here, we present a corresponding code PARADE (PAraxial RAy DEscription) and its test applications to single-mode beams in vacuum and also in inhomogeneous magnetized plasma. The numerical results are compared, respectively, with analytic formulas from Gaussian-beam optics and also with cold-plasma ray tracing. Quasioptical simulations of mode-converting beams are reported in the next, third paper of this series

Orbital motions and light curves of young binaries XZ Tau and VY Tau

The results of our speckle interferometric observations of young binaries VY Tau and XZ Tau are presented. For the first time, we found a relative displacement of VY Tau components as well as a preliminary orbit for XZ Tau. It appeared that the orbit is appreciably non-circular and is inclined by $i \lesssim 47^o$ from the plane of the sky. It means that the rotation axis of XZ Tau A and the axis of its jet are significantly non-perpendicular to the orbital plane. We found that the average brightness of XZ Tau had been increasing from the beginning of the last century up to the mid-thirties and then it decreased by $\Delta B > 2$ mag. The maximal brightness has been reached significantly later on the time of periastron passage. The total brightness of XZ Tau's components varied in a non-regular way from 1970 to 1985 when eruptions of hot gas from XZ Tau A presumably had occurred. In the early nineties the variations became regular following which a chaotic variability had renewed. We also report that a flare activity of VY Tau has resumed after 40 yr pause, parameters of the previous and new flares are similar, and the flares are related with the A component.Comment: 18 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in the Astronomy Letter

The jet of the young star RW Aur A and related problems

Comparing the images of the jet of the young star RW Aur A, separated by a period of 21.3 years, we found that the outermost jet's knots have emerged $\approx 350$ yr ago. We argue that at that moment the jet itself has appeared and intensive accretion onto the star has began due to the rearrangement of its protoplanetary disk structure caused by the tidal effect of the companion RW Aur B. More precisely, we assume that the increase of accretion is a response to changing conditions in the outer disk regions, which followed after the sound wave, generated by these changes, crossed the disk in a radial direction. The difference in the parameters of the blue and red lobes of the RW Aur A jet, according to our opinion, is a result of the asymmetric distribution of the circumstellar matter above and below the disk, due to a fly-by of the companion. It was found from the analysis of RW Aur historical light curve that deep and long $(\Delta t>150$ days) dimmings of RW Aur A observed after 2010 yr, had no analogues in the previous 110 years. We also associate the change in the character of the photometric variability of the star with the rearrangement of the structure of inner $(r<1$ a.u.) regions of its protoplanetary disk and discuss why these changes began only 350 years after the beginning of the active accretion phase.Comment: accepted by The Astrophysical Bulleti

Analysis of colour and polarimetric variability of RW Aur A in 2010-2018

Results of $UBVRIJHKLM$ photometry and $VRI$ polarimetry of a young star RW Aur A observed during unprecedented long and deep (up to $\Delta V \approx 5$ mag) dimming events in 2010-11 and 2014-18 are presented. The polarization degree $p$ of RW Aur A at this period has reached 30 per cent in the $I$ band. As in the case of UX Ori type stars (UXORs), the so-called 'bluing effect' in the colour-magnitude $V$ versus $V-R_{\rm c},$ $V-I_{\rm c}$ diagrams of the star and a strong anticorrelation between $p$ and brightness were observed. But the duration and the amplitude of the eclipses as well as the value and orientation of polarization vector in our case differ significantly from that of UXORs. We concluded that the dimmings of RW Aur A occurred due to eclipses of the star and inner regions of its disc by the axisymmetric dust structure located above the disc and created by the disc wind. Taking into account both scattering and absorption of stellar light by the circumstellar dust, we explain some features of the light curve and the polarization degree - magnitude dependence. We found that near the period of minimal brightness mass-loss rate of the dusty wind was $> 10^{-9}$ M$_\odot$ yr$^{-1}.$Comment: 19 pages, 17 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA