601 research outputs found
Reverse engineering a spectrum: using fluorescent spectra of molecular hydrogen to recreate the missing Lyman-α line of pre-main sequence stars
The hydrogen Lyman-α (Lyα) line, a major source of ionization of metals in the circumstellar disks of pre-main sequence (PMS) stars, is usually not observed due to absorption by interstellar and circumstellar hydrogen. We have developed a technique to reconstruct the intrinsic Lyα line using the observed emission in the H2 B-X lines that are fluoresced by Lyα. We describe this technique and the subsequent analysis of the ultraviolet (UV) spectra of the TW Hya, RU Lupi and other PMS stars. We find that the reconstructed Lyα lines are indeed far brighter than any other feature in the UV spectra of these stars and therefore play an important role in the ionization and heating of the outer layers of circumstellar disks
Magnetic fields of intermediate mass T Tauri stars
Aims. In this paper, we aim to measure the strength of the surface magnetic
fields for a sample of five intermediate mass T Tauri stars and one low mass T
Tauri star from late-F to mid-K spectral types. While magnetic fields of T
Tauri stars at the low mass range have been extensively characterized, our work
complements previous studies towards the intermediate mass range; this
complementary study is key to evaluate how magnetic fields evolve during the
transition from a convective to a radiative core.
Methods. We studied the Zeeman broadening of magnetically sensitive spectral
lines in the H-band spectra obtained with the CRIRES high-resolution
near-infrared spectrometer. These data are modelled using magnetic spectral
synthesis and model atmospheres. Additional constraints on non-magnetic line
broadening mechanisms are obtained from modelling molecular lines in the K band
or atomic lines in the optical wavelength region.
Results. We detect and measure mean surface magnetic fields for five of the
six stars in our sample: CHXR 28, COUP 107, V2062 Oph, V1149 Sco, and Par 2441.
Magnetic field strengths inferred from the most magnetically sensitive
diagnostic line range from 0.8 to 1.8 kG. We also estimate a magnetic field
strength of 1.9 kG for COUP 107 from an alternative diagnostic. The magnetic
field on YLW 19 is the weakest in our sample and is marginally detected, with a
strength of 0.8 kG.
Conclusions. We populate an uncharted area of the pre-main-sequence HR
diagram with mean magnetic field measurements from high-resolution
near-infrared spectra. Our sample of intermediate mass T Tauri stars in general
exhibits weaker magnetic fields than their lower mass counterparts. Our
measurements will be used in combination with other spectropolarimetric studies
of intermediate mass and lower mass T Tauri stars to provide input into
pre-main-sequence stellar evolutionary models.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy and
Astrophysic
HST FUV C IV observations of the hot DG Tauri jet
Protostellar jets are tightly connected to the accretion process and regulate
the angular momentum balance of accreting star-disk systems. The DG Tau jet is
one of the best-studied protostellar jets and contains plasma with temperatures
ranging over three orders of magnitude within the innermost 50 AU of the jet.
We present new Hubble Space Telescope (HST) far ultraviolet (FUV) long-slit
spectra spatially resolving the C IV emission (T~1e5 K) from the jet for the
first time, and quasi-simultaneous HST observations of optical forbidden
emission lines ([O I], [N II], [S II] and [O III]) and fluorescent H2 lines.
The C IV emission peaks at 42 AU from the stellar position and has a FWHM of 52
AU along the jet. Its deprojected velocity of around 200 km/s decreases
monotonically away from the driving source. In addition, we compare our HST
data with the X-ray emission from the DG Tau jet. We investigate the
requirements to explain the data by an initially hot jet compared to local
heating. Both scenarios indicate a mass loss by the T~1e5 K jet of ~1e-9
Msun/year, i.e., between the values for the lower temperature jet (T~1e4 K) and
the hotter X-ray emitting part (T>1e6 K). However, a simple initially hot wind
requires a large launching region (~1 AU), and we therefore favor local
heating.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, accepted by A&A letter
Time-Reversal-Violating Schiff Moment of 199Hg
We calculate the Schiff moment of the nucleus 199Hg, created by pi-N-N
vertices that are odd under parity (P) and time-reversal (T). Our approach,
formulated in diagrammatic perturbation theory with important core-polarization
diagrams summed to all orders, gives a close approximation to the expectation
value of the Schiff operator in the odd-A Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov ground state
generated by a Skyrme interaction and a weak P- and T-odd pion-exchange
potential. To assess the uncertainty in the results, we carry out the
calculation with several Skyrme interactions (the quality of which we test by
checking predictions for the isoscalar-E1 strength distribution in 208Pb) and
estimate most of the important diagrams we omit.Comment: 13 pages, 7 figure
Far infrared CO and HO emission in intermediate-mass protostars
Intermediate-mass young stellar objects (YSOs) provide a link to understand
how feedback from shocks and UV radiation scales from low to high-mass star
forming regions. Aims: Our aim is to analyze excitation of CO and HO in
deeply-embedded intermediate-mass YSOs and compare with low-mass and high-mass
YSOs. Methods: Herschel/PACS spectral maps are analyzed for 6 YSOs with
bolometric luminosities of . The maps
cover spatial scales of AU in several CO and HO lines located
in the m range. Results: Rotational diagrams of CO show two
temperature components at K and
K, comparable to low- and high-mass protostars
probed at similar spatial scales. The diagrams for HO show a single
component at K, as seen in low-mass protostars, and
about K lower than in high-mass protostars. Since the uncertainties in
are of the same order as the difference between the
intermediate and high-mass protostars, we cannot conclude whether the change in
rotational temperature occurs at a specific luminosity, or whether the change
is more gradual from low- to high-mass YSOs. Conclusions: Molecular excitation
in intermediate-mass protostars is comparable to the central AU of
low-mass protostars and consistent within the uncertainties with the high-mass
protostars probed at AU scales, suggesting similar shock
conditions in all those sources.Comment: Accepted to Astronomy & Astrophysics. 4 pages, 5 figures, 3 table
X-ray to NIR emission from AA Tauri during the dim state - Occultation of the inner disk and gas-to-dust ratio of the absorber
AA Tau is a well-studied, nearby classical T Tauri star, which is viewed
almost edge-on. A warp in its inner disk periodically eclipses the central
star, causing a clear modulation of its optical light curve. The system
underwent a major dimming event beginning in 2011 caused by an extra absorber,
which is most likely associated with additional disk material in the line of
sight toward the central source. We present new XMM-Newton X-ray, Hubble Space
Telescope FUV, and ground based optical and near-infrared data of the system
obtained in 2013 during the long-lasting dim phase. The line width decrease of
the fluorescent H disk emission shows that the extra absorber is located at
au. Comparison of X-ray absorption () with dust extinction (),
as derived from measurements obtained one inner disk orbit (eight days) after
the X-ray measurement, indicates that the gas-to-dust ratio as probed by the
to ratio of the extra absorber is compatible with the ISM ratio.
Combining both results suggests that the extra absorber, i.e., material at
au, has no significant gas excess in contrast to the elevated
gas-to-dust ratio previously derived for material in the inner region
(au).Comment: 16 pages, 12 figures, accepted by A&
DIGIT survey of far-infrared lines from protoplanetary disks I
[abridged] We present far-infrared spectroscopic observations of PMS stars
taken with Herschel/PACS as part of the DIGIT key project. The sample includes
22 Herbig AeBe and 8 T Tauri sources. Multiple atomic fine structure and
molecular lines are detected at the source position: [OI], [CII], CO, OH, H_2O,
CH^+. The most common feature is the [OI] 63micron line detected in almost all
of the sources followed by OH. In contrast with CO, OH is detected toward both
Herbig AeBe groups (flared and non-flared sources). An isothermal LTE slab
model fit to the OH lines indicates column densities of 10^13 < N_OH < 10^16
cm^-2, emitting radii 15 < r < 100 AU and excitation temperatures 100 < T_ex <
400 K. The OH emission thus comes from a warm layer in the disk at intermediate
stellar distances. Warm H_2O emission is detected through multiple lines toward
the T Tauri systems AS 205, DG Tau, S CrA and RNO 90 and three Herbig AeBe
systems HD 104237, HD 142527, HD 163296 (through line stacking). Overall,
Herbig AeBe sources have higher OH/H_2O abundance ratios across the disk than
do T Tauri disks, from near- to far-infrared wavelengths. Far-infrared CH^+
emission is detected toward HD 100546 and HD 97048. The slab model suggests
moderate excitation (T_ex ~ 100 K) and compact (r ~ 60 AU) emission in the case
of HD 100546. The [CII] emission is spatially extended in all sources where the
line is detected. This suggests that not all [CII] emission is associated with
the disk and that there is a substantial contribution from diffuse material
around the young stars. The flux ratios of the atomic fine structure lines are
consistent with a disk origin for the oxygen lines for most of the sources.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&
Unveiling extremely veiled T Tauri stars
Photospheric absorption lines in classical T Tauri stars (CTTS) are weak
compared to normal stars. This so-called veiling is normally identified with an
excess continuous emission formed in shock-heated gas at the stellar surface
below the accretion streams. We have selected four stars (RW Aur A, RU Lup, S
CrA NW and S CrA SE) with unusually strong veiling to make a detailed
investigation of veiling versus stellar brightness and emission line strengths
for comparisons to standard accretion models. We have monitored the stars
photometrically and spectroscopically at several epochs. In standard accretion
models a variable accretion rate will lead to a variable excess emission.
Consequently, the stellar brightness should vary accordingly. We find that the
veiling of absorption lines in these stars is strongly variable and usually so
large that it would require the release of several stellar luminosities of
potential energy. At states of very large line dilution, the correspondingly
large veiling factors derived correlate only weakly with brightness. Moreover,
the emission line strengths violate the expected trend of veiling versus line
strength. The veiling can change dramatically in one night, and is not
correlated with the phase of the rotation periods found for two stars. We show
that in at least three of the stars, when the veiling becomes high, the
photospheric lines become filled-in by line emission, which produces large
veiling factors unrelated to changes in any continuous emission from shocked
regions. We also consider to what extent extinction by dust and electron
scattering in the accretion stream may affect veiling measures in CTTS. We
conclude that the degree of veiling cannot be used as a measure of accretion
rates in CTTS with rich emission line spectra.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&A Letters. New language-edited version.
(4 pages, 3 figures
X-Shooter study of accretion in Chamaeleon I
DF acknowledges support from the Italian Ministry of Science and Education (MIUR), project SIR (RBSI14ZRHR) and from the ESTEC Faculty Visiting Scientist Programme.We present the analysis of 34 new VLT/X-Shooter spectra of young stellar objects in the Chamaeleon I star-forming region, together with four more spectra of stars in Taurus and two in Chamaeleon II. The broad wavelength coverage and accurate flux calibration of our spectra allow us to estimate stellar and accretion parameters for our targets by fitting the photospheric and accretion continuum emission from the Balmer continuum down to ~700 nm. The dependence of accretion on stellar properties for this sample is consistent with previous results from the literature. The accretion rates for transitional disks are consistent with those of full disks in the same region. The spread of mass accretion rates at any given stellar mass is found to be smaller than inmany studies, but is larger than that derived in the Lupus clouds using similar data and techniques. Differences in the stellar mass range and in the environmental conditions between our sample and that of Lupus may account for the discrepancy in scatter between Chamaeleon I and Lupus.Complete samples in Chamaeleon I and Lupus are needed to determine whether the difference in scatter of accretion rates and the lack of evolutionary trends are not influenced by sample selection.PostprintPeer reviewe
[OI]63micron jets in class 0 sources detected by Herschel
We present Herschel PACS mapping observations of the [OI]63 micron line
towards protostellar outflows in the L1448, NGC1333-IRAS4, HH46, BHR71 and
VLA1623 star forming regions. We detect emission spatially resolved along the
outflow direction, which can be associated with a low excitation atomic jet. In
the L1448-C, HH46 IRS and BHR71 IRS1 outflows this emission is kinematically
resolved into blue- and red-shifted jet lobes, having radial velocities up to
200 km/s. In the L1448-C atomic jet the velocity increases with the distance
from the protostar, similarly to what observed in the SiO jet associated with
this source. This suggests that [OI] and molecular gas are kinematically
connected and that this latter could represent the colder cocoon of a jet at
higher excitation. Mass flux rates (\.M(OI)) have been measured from
the [OI]63micron luminosity adopting two independent methods. We find values in
the range 1-4 10 Mo/yr for all sources but HH46, for which an order of
magnitude higher value is estimated. \.M(OI) are compared with mass
accretion rates (\.M) onto the protostar and with \.M derived
from ground-based CO observations. \.M(OI)/\.M ratios are in
the range 0.05-0.5, similar to the values for more evolved sources.
\.M(OI) in HH46 IRS and IRAS4A are comparable to \.M(CO), while
those of the remaining sources are significantly lower than the corresponding
\.M(CO). We speculate that for these three sources most of the mass
flux is carried out by a molecular jet, while the warm atomic gas does not
significantly contribute to the dynamics of the system.Comment: 37 pages and 12 figures, accepted for publication on Astrophysical
Journa
- …