344 research outputs found
The SiC problem: astronomical and meteoritic evidence
Pre-solar grains of silicon carbide found in meteorites and interpreted as
having had an origin around carbon stars from their isotopic composition, have
all been found to be of the beta-SiC polytype. Yet to date fits to the 11.3
microns SiC emission band of carbon stars had been obtained only for alpha-SiC
grains. We present thin film infrared (IR) absorption spectra measured in a
diamond anvil cell for both the alpha- and beta- polymorphs of synthetic SiC
and compare the results with previously published spectra taken using the KBr
matrix method. We find that our thin film spectra have positions nearly
identical to those obtained previously from finely ground samples in KBr.
Hence, we show that this discrepancy has arisen from inappropriate `KBr
corrections' having been made to laboratory spectra of SiC particles dispersed
in KBr matrices. We re-fit a sample of carbon star mid-IR spectra, using
laboratory data with no KBr correction applied, and show that beta-SiC grains
fit the observations, while alpha-SiC grains do not. The discrepancy between
meteoritic and astronomical identifications of the SiC-type is therefore
removed. This work shows that the diamond anvil cell thin film method can be
used to produce mineral spectra applicable to cosmic environments without
further manipulation.Comment: to be published in Astrophysical Journal Letter 4 pages, 3 figure
2-Dust : a Dust Radiative Transfer Code for an Axisymmetric System
We have developed a general purpose dust radiative transfer code for an
axisymmetric system, 2-Dust, motivated by the recent increasing availability of
high-resolution images of circumstellar dust shells at various wavelengths.
This code solves the equation of radiative transfer following the principle of
long characteristic in a 2-D polar grid while considering a 3-D radiation field
at each grid point. A solution is sought through an iterative scheme in which
self-consistency of the solution is achieved by requiring a global luminosity
constancy throughout the shell. The dust opacities are calculated through Mie
theory from the given size distribution and optical properties of the dust
grains. The main focus of the code is to obtain insights on (1) the global
energetics of dust grains in the shell (2) the 2-D projected morphologies that
are strongly dependent on the mixed effects of the axisymmetric dust
distribution and inclination angle of the shell. Here, test models are
presented with discussion of the results. The code can be supplied with a
user-defined density distribution function, and thus, is applicable to a
variety of dusty astronomical objects possessing the axisymmetric geometry.Comment: To be published in ApJ, April 2003 issue; 13 pages, 4 tables, 17
figures, 5-page appendix (no figures for the main text included in this
preprint). For the complete preprint and code distribution, contact the
author
Born Again Protoplanetary Disk Around Mira B
The Mira AB system is a nearby (~107 pc) example of a wind accreting binary
star system. In this class of system, the wind from a mass-losing red giant
star (Mira A) is accreted onto a companion (Mira B), as indicated by an
accretion shock signature in spectra at ultraviolet and X-ray wavelengths.
Using novel imaging techniques, we report the detection of emission at
mid-infrared wavelengths between 9.7 and 18.3 m from the vicinity of Mira
B but with a peak at a radial position about 10 AU closer to the primary Mira
A. We interpret the mid-infrared emission as the edge of an optically-thick
accretion disk heated by Mira A. The discovery of this new class of accretion
disk fed by M-giant mass loss implies a potential population of young planetary
systems in white-dwarf binaries which has been little explored, despite being
relatively common in the solar neighborhood.Comment: Accepted for Ap
Dust Migration and Morphology in Optically Thin Circumstellar Gas Disks
We analyze the dynamics of gas-dust coupling in the presence of stellar
radiation pressure in circumstellar gas disks, which are in a transitional
stage between the gas-dominated, optically thick, primordial nebulae, and the
dust-dominated, optically thin Vega-type disks. Dust undergo radial migration,
seeking a stable equilibrium orbit in corotation with gas. The migration of
dust gives rise to radial fractionation of dust and creates a variety of
possible observed disk morphologies, which we compute by considering the
equilibrium between the dust production and the dust-dust collisions removing
particles from their equilibrium orbits. Sand-sized and larger grains are
distributed throughout most of the gas disk, with concentration near the gas
pressure maximum in the inner disk. Smaller grains (typically in the range of
10 to 200 micron) concentrate in a prominent ring structure in the outer region
of the gas disk (presumably at radius 100 AU), where gas density is rapidly
declining with radius. The width and density, as well as density contrast of
the dust ring with respect to the inner dust disk depend on the distribution of
gas. Our results open the prospect for deducing the distribution of gas in
circumstellar disks by observing their dust. We have qualitatively compared our
models with two observed transitional disks around HR 4796A and HD 141569A.
Dust migration can result in observation of a ring or a bimodal radial dust
distribution, possibly very similar to the ones produced by gap-opening
planet(s) embedded in the disk, or shepherding it from inside or outside. We
conclude that a convincing planet detection via dust imaging should include
specific non-axisymmetric structure following from the dynamical simulations of
perturbed disks.Comment: 27 pages, 16 figures, submitted to Ap
The Detection of Crystalline Silicates in Ultra-Luminous Infrared Galaxies
Silicates are an important component of interstellar dust and the structure
of these grains -- amorphous versus crystalline -- is sensitive to the local
physical conditions. We have studied the infrared spectra of a sample of
ultra-luminous infrared galaxies. Here, we report the discovery of weak, narrow
absorption features at 11, 16, 19, 23, and 28 microns, characteristic of
crystalline silicates, superimposed on the broad absorption bands at 10 and 18
microns due to amorphous silicates in a subset of this sample. These features
betray the presence of forsterite (Mg_2SiO_4), the magnesium-rich end member of
the olivines. Previously, crystalline silicates have only been observed in
circumstellar environments. The derived fraction of forsterite to amorphous
silicates is typically 0.1 in these ULIRGs. This is much larger than the upper
limit for this ratio in the interstellar medium of the Milky Way, 0.01. These
results suggest that the timescale for injection of crystalline silicates into
the ISM is short in a merger-driven starburst environment (e.g., as compared to
the total time to dissipate the gas), pointing towards massive stars as a
prominent source of crystalline silicates. Furthermore, amorphization due to
cosmic rays, which is thought to be of prime importance for the local ISM, lags
in vigorous starburst environments.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in Ap
Near-Infrared Synchrotron Emission from Cas A
High energy observations of Cas A suggested the presence of synchrotron
radiation, implying acceleration of cosmic rays by young supernova remnants. We
detect synchrotron emission from Cas A in the near-infrared using Two Micron
All Sky Survey (2MASS) and Palomar 200 inch PFIRCAM observations. The remnant
is detected in J, H, and Ks bands, with Ks band brightest and J faint. In the J
and H bands, bright [Fe II] lines (1.24um and 1.64um) are detected
spectroscopically. The Palomar observations include Ks continuum, narrow-band
1.64um (centered on [Fe II]) and 2.12um (centered on H2(1-0)) images. While the
narrow-band 1.64um image shows filamentary and knotty structures, similar to
the optical image, the Ks image shows a relatively smooth, diffuse shell,
remarkably similar to the radio image. The broad-band near-infrared fluxes of
Cas A are generally consistent with, but a few tens of percent higher than, an
extrapolation of the radio fluxes. The hardening to higher frequencies is
possibly due to nonlinear shock acceleration and/or spectral index variation
across the remnant. We show evidence of spectral index variation. The presence
of near-infrared synchrotron radiation requires the roll-off frequency to be
higher than 1.5e14 Hz, implying that electrons are accelerated to energies of
at least 0.2 TeV. The morphological similarity in diffuse emission between the
radio and Ks band images implies that synchrotron losses are not dominant. Our
observations show unambiguous evidence that the near-infrared Ks band emission
of Cas A is from synchrotron emission by accelerated cosmic-ray electrons.Comment: accepted by Ap
Photometric Light Curves and Polarization of Close-in Extrasolar Giant Planets
The close-in extrasolar giant planets [CEGPs], \ltorder 0.05 AU from their
parent stars, may have a large component of optically reflected light. We
present theoretical optical photometric light curves and polarization curves
for the CEGP systems, from reflected planetary light. Different particle sizes
of three condensates are considered. In the most reflective case, the
variability is micromagnitudes, which will be easily detectable
by the upcoming satellite missions MOST, COROT, and MONS, and possibly from the
ground in the near future. The least reflective case is caused by small, highly
absorbing grains such as solid Fe, with variation of much less than one
micromagnitude. Polarization for all cases is lower than current detectability
limits. We also discuss the temperature-pressure profiles and resulting
emergent spectra of the CEGP atmospheres. We discuss the observational results
of Tau Boo b by Cameron et al. (1999) and Charbonneau et al. (1999) in context
of our model results. The predictions - the shape and magnitude of the light
curves and polarization curves - are highly dependent on the size and type of
condensates present in the planetary atmosphere.Comment: 33 pages, accepted by Ap
Very Low-Mass Objects in the Coronet Cluster: The Realm of the Transition Disks
We present optical and IR spectra of a set of low-mass stars and brown dwarfs
in the Coronet cluster (aged ~1Myr), obtained with the multifiber spectrograph
FLAMES/VLT and IRS/Spitzer. The optical spectra reveal spectral types between
M1 and M7.5, confirm the youth of the objects (via Li 6708 A absorption), and
show the presence of accretion (via Halpha) and shocks (via forbidden line
emission). The IRS spectra, together with IR photometry from the IRAC/MIPS
instruments on Spitzer and 2MASS, confirm the presence of IR excesses
characteristic of disks around ~70% of the objects. Half of the disks do not
exhibit any silicate emission, or present flat features characteristic of large
grains. The rest of the disks show silicate emission typical of amorphous and
crystalline silicate grains a few microns in size. About 50% of the objects
with disks do not show near-IR excess emission, having "transitional" disks,
according to their classical definition. This is a very high fraction for such
a young cluster. The large number of "transitional" disks suggests lifetimes
comparable to the lifetimes of typical optically thick disks. Therefore, these
disks may not be in a short-lived phase, intermediate between Class II and
Class III objects. The median spectral energy distribution of the disks in the
Coronet cluster is also closer to a flat disk than observed for the disks
around solar-type stars in regions with similar age. The differences in the
disk morphology and evolution in the Coronet cluster could be related to fact
that these objects have very late spectral types compared to the solar-type
stars in other cluster studies. Finally, the optical spectroscopy reveals that
one of the X-ray sources is produced by a Herbig Haro object in the cloud.Comment: 51 pages, 13 figures, 10 table
Evolution of dust and ice features around FU Orionis objects
(abridged) We present spectroscopy data for a sample of 14 FUors and 2 TTauri
stars observed with the Spitzer Space Telescope or with the Infrared Space
Observatory (ISO). Based on the appearance of the 10 micron silicate feature we
define 2 categories of FUors. Objects showing the silicate feature in
absorption (Category 1) are still embedded in a dusty and icy envelope. The
shape of the 10 micron silicate absorption bands is compared to typical dust
compositions of the interstellar medium and found to be in general agreement.
Only one object (RNO 1B) appears to be too rich in amorphous pyroxene dust, but
a superposed emission feature can explain the observed shape. We derive optical
depths and extinction values from the silicate band and additional ice bands at
6.0, 6.8 and 15.2 micron. In particular the analysis of the CO_2 ice band at
15.2 micron allows us to search for evidence for ice processing and constrains
whether the absorbing material is physically linked to the central object or in
the foreground. For objects showing the silicate feature in emission (Category
2), we argue that the emission comes from the surface layer of accretion disks.
Analyzing the dust composition reveals that significant grain growth has
already taken place within the accretion disks, but no clear indications for
crystallization are present. We discuss how these observational results can be
explained in the picture of a young, and highly active accretion disk. Finally,
a framework is proposed as to how the two categories of FUors can be understood
in a general paradigm of the evolution of young, low-mass stars. Only one
object (Parsamian 21) shows PAH emission features. Their shapes, however, are
often seen toward evolved stars and we question the object's status as a FUor
and discuss other possible classifications.Comment: accepted for publication in ApJ; 63 pages preprint style including 8
tables and 24 figure
Near-ultraviolet and optical effects of Debris Disks around White Dwarfs
Studies of debris disks around white dwarfs (WDs) have focused on infrared
wavelengths because debris disks are much colder than the star and are believed
to contribute to the spectrum only at longer wavelengths. Nevertheless, these
disks are made of dust grains which absorb and scatter near-UV and optical
photons from the WD, leaving a fingerprint that can be used to further
constrain disk properties. Our goal is to show that it is possible to detect
near-UV and optical effects of debris disks in the star + disk integrated
spectrum. We make theoretical calculations and discuss the necessary
observational conditions to detect the near-UV and optical effects. We show how
these effects can be used to infer the disk mass, composition, optical depth,
and inclination relative to the line of sight. If the IR excess is due to a
disk, then near-UV and optical effects should be observed in only some systems,
not all of them, while for dust shells the effects should be observed in all
systems.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure
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