939 research outputs found
Disk Evolution in Young Binaries: from Observations to Theory
The formation of a binary system surrounded by disks is the most common
outcome of stellar formation. Hence studying and understanding the formation
and the evolution of binary systems and associated disks is a cornerstone of
star formation science. Moreover, since the components within binary systems
are coeval and the sizes of their disks are fixed by the tidal truncation of
their companion, binary systems provide an ideal "laboratory" in which to study
disk evolution under well defined boundary conditions.
In this paper, we review observations of several inner disk diagnostics in
multiple systems, including hydrogen emission lines (indicative of ongoing
accretion), and color excesses (evidence of warm inner disks), and
polarization (indicative of the relative orientations of the disks around each
component). We examine to what degree these properties are correlated within
binary systems and how this degree of correlation depends on parameters such as
separation and binary mass ratio. These findings will be interpreted both in
terms of models that treat each disk as an isolated reservoir and those in
which the disks are subject to re-supply from some form of circumbinary
reservoir, the observational evidence for which we will also critically review.
The planet forming potential of multiple star systems is discussed in terms of
the relative lifetimes of disks around single stars, binary primaries and
binary secondaries. Finally, we summarize several potentially revealing
observational problems and future projects that could provide further insight
into disk evolution in the coming decadeComment: 16 pages, 7 figures, chapter in Protostars and Planets
A near-infrared variability campaign of TMR-1: New light on the nature of the candidate protoplanet TMR-1C
(abridged) We present a near-infrared (NIR) photometric variability study of
the candidate protoplanet, TMR-1C, located at a separation of about 10" (~1000
AU) from the Class I protobinary TMR-1AB in the Taurus molecular cloud. Our
campaign was conducted between October, 2011, and January, 2012. We were able
to obtain 44 epochs of observations in each of the H and Ks filters. Based on
the final accuracy of our observations, we do not find any strong evidence of
short-term NIR variability at amplitudes of >0.15-0.2 mag for TMR-1C or
TMR-1AB. Our present observations, however, have reconfirmed the
large-amplitude long-term variations in the NIR emission for TMR-1C, which were
earlier observed between 1998 and 2002, and have also shown that no particular
correlation exists between the brightness and the color changes. TMR-1C became
brighter in the H-band by ~1.8 mag between 1998 and 2002, and then fainter
again by ~0.7 mag between 2002 and 2011. In contrast, it has persistently
become brighter in the Ks-band in the period between 1998 and 2011. The (H-Ks)
color for TMR-1C shows large variations, from a red value of 1.3+/-0.07 and
1.6+/-0.05 mag in 1998 and 2000, to a much bluer color of -0.1+/-0.5 mag in
2002, and then again a red color of 1.1+/-0.08 mag in 2011. The observed
variability from 1998 to 2011 suggests that TMR-1C becomes fainter when it gets
redder, as expected from variable extinction, while the brightening observed in
the Ks-band could be due to physical variations in its inner disk structure.
The NIR colors for TMR-1C obtained using the high precision photometry from
1998, 2000, and 2011 observations are similar to the protostars in Taurus,
suggesting that it could be a faint dusty Class I source. Our study has also
revealed two new variable sources in the vicinity of TMR-1AB, which show
long-term variations of ~1-2 mag in the NIR colors between 2002 and 2011.Comment: Accepted in A&
The Taurus Boundary of Stellar/Substellar (TBOSS) Survey I: far-IR disk emission measured with Herschel
With Herschel/PACS 134 low mass members of the Taurus star-forming region
spanning the M4-L0 spectral type range and covering the transition from low
mass stars to brown dwarfs were observed. Combining the new Herschel results
with other programs, a total of 150 of the 154 M4-L0 Taurus members members
have observations with Herschel. Among the 150 targets, 70um flux densities
were measured for 7 of the 7 ClassI objects, 48 of the 67 ClassII members, and
3 of the 76 ClassIII targets. For the detected ClassII objects, the median 70um
flux density level declines with spectral type, however, the distribution of
excess relative to central object flux density does not change across the
stellar/substellar boundary in the M4-L0 range. Connecting the 70um TBOSS
values with the results from K0-M3 ClassII members results in the first
comprehensive census of far-IR emission across the full mass spectrum of the
stellar and substellar population of a star-forming region, and the median flux
density declines with spectral type in a trend analogous to the flux density
decline expected for the central objects. SEDs were constructed for all TBOSS
targets covering the optical to far-IR range and extending to the submm/mm for
a subset of sources. Based on an initial exploration of the impact of different
physical parameters; inclination, scale height and flaring have the largest
influence on the PACS flux densities. From the 24um to 70um spectral index of
the SEDs, 5 new candidate transition disks were identified. The steep 24um to
70um slope for a subset of 8 TBOSS targets may be an indication of truncated
disks in these systems.Two examples of mixed pair systems that include
secondaries with disks were measured. Finally, comparing the TBOSS results with
a Herschel study of Ophiuchus brown dwarfs reveals a lower fraction of disks
around the Taurus substellar population.Comment: 64 pages, 33 figures, 12 tables, accepted for publication in A&
Infrared Speckle Interferometry with 2-D Arrays
We describe results from a program of speckle interferometry with two-dimensional infrared array detectors. Analysis of observations of eta Carinae made with 58 x 62 InSb detector are discussed. The data have been analyzed with both the Labeyrie autocorrelation, a deconvolution of shift-and-add data, and a phase restoration process. Development of a new camera based on a much lower noise HgCdTe detector will lead to a significant improvement i limiting magnitude for IR speckle interferometry
Disc orientations in pre-main-sequence multiple systems. A study in southern star formation regions
Classical T Tauri stars are encircled by accretion discs most of the time
unresolved by conventional imaging observation. However, numerical simulations
show that unresolved aperture linear polarimetry can be used to extract
information about the geometry of the immediate circumstellar medium that
scatter the starlight. Monin, Menard & Duchene (1998) previously suggested that
polarimetry can be used to trace the relative orientation of discs in young
binary systems in order to shed light on the stellar and planet formation
process. In this paper, we report on new VLT/FORS1 optical linear polarisation
measurements of 23 southern binaries spanning a range of separation from 0.8''
to 10''. In each field, the polarisation of the central binary is extracted, as
well as the polarisation of nearby stars in order to estimate the local
interstellar polarisation. We find that, in general, the linear polarisation
vectors of individual components in binary systems tend to be parallel to each
other. The amplitude of their polarisations are also correlated. These findings
are in agreement with our previous work and extend the trend to smaller
separations. They are also similar to other studies, e.g., Donar et al. 1999;
Jensen et al. 2000, 2004; Wolf et al. 2001. However, we also find a few systems
showing large differences in polarisation level, possibly indicating different
inclinations to the line-of-sight for their discs.Comment: 13 pages, 11 figures, accepted in Astronomy and Astrophysics.
accepted in Astronomy and Astrophysics (A&A
Weak magnetic fields in white dwarfs and their direct progenitors?
We have carried out a re-analysis of polarimetric data of central stars of
planetary nebulae, hot subdwarfs, and white dwarfs taken with FORS1 (FOcal
Reducer and low dispersion Spectrograph) on the VLT (Very Large Telescope), and
added a large number of new observations in order to increase the sample. A
careful analysis of the observations using only one wavelength calibration for
the polarimetrically analysed spectra and for all positions of the retarder
plate of the spectrograph is crucial in order to avoid spurious signals. We
find that the previous detections of magnetic fields in subdwarfs and central
stars could not be confirmed while about 10% of the observed white dwarfs have
magnetic fields at the kilogauss level.Comment: 6 pages, Proceedings of the 18th European White Dwarf Workshop, ASP
Conference Serie
The T Tauri Phase Down to Nearly Planetary Masses: Echelle Spectra of 82 Very Low Mass Stars and Brown Dwarfs
Using the largest high-resolution spectroscopic sample to date of young, very
low mass stars (VLMS) and brown dwarfs (BDs), we investigate disk accretion in
objects ranging from just above the hydrogen-burning limit all the way to
nearly planetary masses. Our 82 targets span spectral types from M5 to M9.5, or
masses from 0.15 Msun down to ~15 Jupiters. They are confirmed members of the
rho Oph, Taurus, Cha I, IC 348, R CrA, Upper Sco and TW Hydrae regions, with
ages = M6.5). We
find that: (1) classical T Tauri-like disk-accretion persists in the BD domain
down to nearly the deuterium-burning limit; (2) in addition to H-alpha,
permitted emission lines of CaII, OI and HeI are also good accretion
indicators, as in CTTs; (3) the CaII 8662A flux is an excellent quantitative
measure of the accretion rate (Mdot) in VLMS and BDs(as in CTTs); (4) Mdot
diminishes as M^2 -- our measurements support previous findings of this
correlation, and extend it to the entire range of sub-stellar masses; (5) the
accretor fraction among VLMS and BDs decreases substantially with age, as in
higher-mass stars; (6) at any given age, the VLMS and BD accretor fraction is
comparable to that in higher-mass stars; and (7) a number of sources with IR
disk excesses do not evince measurable accretion, with the incidence of such a
mismatch increasing with age: this implies that disks in the low mass regime
can persist beyond the main accretion phase, and parallels the transition from
the classical to post-T Tauri stage in more massive stars. These strong
similarities at young ages, between higher-mass stars and low-mass bodies close
to and below the hydrogen-burning limit, are consistent with a common formation
mechanism in the two mass regimes. (abridged)Comment: 64 pages, 7 figures. ApJ accepte
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