Tracing snowlines and C/O ratio in a planet-hosting disk: ALMA molecular line observations towards the HD169142 disk

The composition of a forming planet is set by the material it accretes from its parent protoplanetary disk. Therefore, it is crucial to map the chemical make-up of the gas in disks to understand the chemical environment of planet formation. This paper presents molecular line observations taken with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array of the planet-hosting disk around the young star HD 169142. We detect N2H+, CH3OH, [CI], DCN, CS, C34S, 13CS, H2CS, H2CO, HC3N and c-C3H2 in this system for the first time. Combining these data with the recent detection of SO and previously published DCO+ data, we estimate the location of H2O and CO snowlines and investigate radial variations in the gas phase C/O ratio. We find that the HD 169142 disk has a relatively low N2H+ flux compared to the disks around Herbig stars HD 163296 and MWC 480 indicating less CO freeze-out and place the CO snowline beyond the millimetre disk at ~150 au. The detection of CH3OH from the inner disk is consistent with the H2O snowline being located at the edge of the central dust cavity at ~20 au. The radially varying CS/SO ratio across the proposed H2O snowline location is consistent with this interpretation. Additionally, the detection of CH3OH in such a warm disk adds to the growing evidence supporting the inheritance of complex ices in disks from the earlier, colder stages of star formation. Finally, we propose that the giant HD 169142 b located at 37 au is forming between the CO2 and H2O snowlines where the local elemental make of the gas is expected to have C/O=1.0.Comment: Accepted A&A 13th August 202

Investigating the asymmetric chemistry in the disk around the young star HD 142527

The atmospheric composition of planets is determined by the chemistry of the disks in which they form. Studying the gas-phase molecular composition of disks thus allows us to infer what the atmospheric composition of forming planets might be. Recent observations of the IRS 48 disk have shown that (asymmetric) dust traps can directly impact the observable chemistry, through radial and vertical transport, and the sublimation of ices. The asymmetric HD 142527 disk provides another good opportunity to investigate the role of dust traps in setting the disk's chemical composition. In this work, we use archival ALMA observations of the HD 142527 disk to obtain an as large as possible molecular inventory, which allows us to investigate the possible influence of the asymmetric dust trap on the disk's chemistry. We present the first ALMA detections of [C I], 13C18O, DCO+, H2CO and additional transition of HCO+ and CS in this disk. In addition, we have acquired upper limits for non-detected species such as SO and CH3OH. For the majority of the observed molecules, a decrement in the emission at the location of the dust trap is found. For the main CO isotopologues continuum over-subtraction likely causes the observed asymmetry, while for CS and HCN we propose that the observed asymmetries are likely due to shadows cast by the misaligned inner disk. As the emission of the observed molecules is not co-spatial with the dust trap and no SO or CH3OH are found, thermal sublimation of icy mantles does not appear to play a major role in changing the gas-phase composition of the outer disk in HD 142527 disk. Using our observations of 13C18O and DCO+ and a RADMC-3D model, we determine the CO snowline to be located beyond the dust traps, favouring cold gas-phase formation of H2CO, rather than the hydrogenation of CO-ice and subsequent sublimation.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&A on 12/04/202

An ALMA molecular inventory of warm Herbig Ae disks: I. Molecular rings, asymmetries and complexity in the HD 100546 disk

Observations of disks with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) allow us to map the chemical makeup of nearby protoplanetary disks with unprecedented spatial resolution and sensitivity. The typical outer Class II disk observed with ALMA is one with an elevated C/O ratio and a lack of oxygen-bearing complex organic molecules, but there are now some interesting exceptions: three transition disks around Herbig Ae stars all show oxygen-rich gas traced via the unique detections of the molecules SO and CH3OH. We present the first results of an ALMA line survey at 337 to 357 GHz of such disks and focus this paper on the first Herbig Ae disk to exhibit this chemical signature - HD 100546. In these data, we detect 19 different molecules including NO, SO and CH3OCHO (methyl formate). We also make the first tentative detections of H213CO and 34SO in protoplanetary disks. Multiple molecular species are detected in rings, which are, surprisingly, all peaking just beyond the underlying millimeter continuum ring at 200 au. This result demonstrates a clear connection between the large dust distribution and the chemistry in this flat outer disk. We discuss the physical and/or chemical origin of these sub-structures in relation to ongoing planet formation in the HD 100546 disk. We also investigate how similar and/or different the molecular make up of this disk is to other chemically well-characterised Herbig Ae disks. The line-rich data we present motivates the need for more ALMA line surveys to probe the observable chemistry in Herbig Ae systems which offer unique insight into the composition of disk ices, including complex organic molecules.Comment: Accepted to AJ, 25 pages, 11 figure

An ALMA molecular inventory of warm Herbig Ae disks: II. Abundant complex organics and volatile sulphur in the IRS 48 disk

The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) can probe the molecular content of planet-forming disks with unprecedented sensitivity. These observations allow us to build up an inventory of the volatiles available for forming planets and comets. Herbig Ae transition disks are fruitful targets due to the thermal sublimation of complex organic molecule (COM) and likely H2O-rich ices in these disks. The IRS 48 disk shows a particularly rich chemistry that can be directly linked to its asymmetric dust trap. Here, we present ALMA observations of the IRS 48 disk where we detect 16 different molecules and make the first robust detections of H213CO, 34SO, 33SO and c-H2COCH2 (ethylene oxide) in a protoplanetary disk. All of the molecular emissions, aside from CO, are colocated with the dust trap and this includes newly detected simple molecules such as HCO+, HCN and CS. Interestingly, there are spatial offsets between different molecular families, including between the COMs and sulphur-bearing species, with the latter being more azimuthally extended and located radially further from the star. The abundances of the newly detected COMs relative to CH3OH are higher than the expected protostellar ratios, which implies some degree of chemical processing of the inherited ices during the disk lifetime. These data highlight IRS 48 as a unique astrochemical laboratory to unravel the full volatile reservoir at the epoch of planet and comet formation and the role of the disk in (re)setting chemical complexity.Comment: Accepted to AJ, 21 pages, 7 figure

MINDS. JWST-MIRI Reveals a Dynamic Gas-Rich Inner Disk Inside the Cavity of SY Cha

SY Cha is a T Tauri star surrounded by a protoplanetary disk with a large cavity seen in the millimeter continuum but has the spectral energy distribution (SED) of a full disk. Here we report the first results from JWST-MIRI Medium Resolution Spectrometer (MRS) observations taken as part of the MIRI mid-INfrared Disk Survey (MINDS) GTO Program. The much improved resolution and sensitivity of MIRI-MRS compared to Spitzer enables a robust analysis of the previously detected H2O, CO, HCN, and CO2 emission as well as a marginal detection of C2H2. We also report the first robust detection of mid-infrared OH and ro-vibrational CO emission in this source. The derived molecular column densities reveal the inner disk of SY Cha to be rich in both oxygen and carbon bearing molecules. This is in contrast to PDS 70, another protoplanetary disk with a large cavity observed with JWST, which displays much weaker line emission. In the SY Cha disk, the continuum, and potentially the line, flux varies substantially between the new JWST observations and archival Spitzer observations, indicative of a highly dynamic inner disk.Comment: 19 pages, 10 figures, 5 tables, accepted for publication in Ap

MINDS. Abundant water and varying C/O across the disk of Sz 98 as seen by JWST/MIRI

MIRI/MRS on board the JWST allows us to probe the inner regions of protoplanetary disks. Here we examine the disk around the classical T Tauri star Sz 98, which has an unusually large dust disk in the millimetre with a compact core. We focus on the H$_2$O emission through both its ro-vibrational and pure rotational emission. Furthermore, we compare our chemical findings with those obtained for the outer disk from Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) observations. In order to model the molecular features in the spectrum, the continuum was subtracted and LTE slab models were fitted. The spectrum was divided into different wavelength regions corresponding to H$_2$O lines of different excitation conditions, and the slab model fits were performed individually per region. We confidently detect CO, H$_2$O, OH, CO$_2$, and HCN in the emitting layers. The isotopologue H$^{18}_2$O is not detected. Additionally, no other organics, including C$_2$H$_2$, are detected. This indicates that the C/O ratio could be substantially below unity, in contrast with the outer disk. The H$_2$O emission traces a large radial disk surface region, as evidenced by the gradually changing excitation temperatures and emitting radii. The OH and CO$_2$ emission are relatively weak. It is likely that H$_2$O is not significantly photodissociated; either due to self-shielding against the stellar irradiation, or UV-shielding from small dust particles. The relative emitting strength of the different identified molecular features point towards UV-shielding of H$_2$O in the inner disk of Sz 98, with a thin layer of OH on top. The majority of the organic molecules are either hidden below the dust continuum, or not present. In general, the inferred composition points to a sub-solar C/O ratio (<0.5) in the inner disk, in contrast with the larger than unity C/O ratio in the gas in the outer disk found with ALMA.Comment: Submitted to A&A on May 25 2023. 18 pages, 11 figure

MINDS. The detection of 13^{13}CO2_{2} with JWST-MIRI indicates abundant CO2_{2} in a protoplanetary disk

We present JWST-MIRI MRS spectra of the protoplanetary disk around the low-mass T Tauri star GW Lup from the MIRI mid-INfrared Disk Survey (MINDS) GTO program. Emission from $^{12}$CO$_{2}$, $^{13}$CO$_{2}$, H$_{2}$O, HCN, C$_{2}$H$_{2}$, and OH is identified with $^{13}$CO$_{2}$ being detected for the first time in a protoplanetary disk. We characterize the chemical and physical conditions in the inner few au of the GW Lup disk using these molecules as probes. The spectral resolution of JWST-MIRI MRS paired with high signal-to-noise data is essential to identify these species and determine their column densities and temperatures. The $Q$-branches of these molecules, including those of hot-bands, are particularly sensitive to temperature and column density. We find that the $^{12}$CO$_{2}$ emission in the GW Lup disk is coming from optically thick emission at a temperature of $\sim$400 K. $^{13}$CO$_{2}$ is optically thinner and based on a lower temperature of $\sim$325 K, may be tracing deeper into the disk and/or a larger emitting radius than $^{12}$CO$_{2}$. The derived $N_{\rm{CO_{2}}}$/$N_{\rm{H_{2}O}}$ ratio is orders of magnitude higher than previously derived for GW Lup and other targets based on \textit{Spitzer}-IRS data. This high column density ratio may be due to an inner cavity with a radius in between the H$_{2}$O and CO$_{2}$ snowlines and/or an overall lower disk temperature. This paper demonstrates the unique ability of JWST to probe inner disk structures and chemistry through weak, previously unseen molecular features.Comment: 15 pages, 10 figures. Accepted to ApJ

Occurrence rate of hot Jupiters orbiting red giant stars

Context. Hot Jupiters form an enigmatic class of object whose formation pathways are not yet clear. Determining their occurrence rates as a function of orbit, planet and stellar mass, and system age can be an important ingredient for understanding how they form. To date, various hot Jupiters have been discovered orbiting red giant stars, and deriving their incidence would be highly interesting. Aims. In this study our aim is to determine the number of hot Jupiters in a well-defined sample of red giants, estimate their occurrence rate, and compare it with that for A-, F-, and G-type stars. Methods. A sample of 14474 red giant stars, with estimated radii between 2 and 5 R⊙, was selected using Gaia to coincide with observations by the NASA TESS mission. Subsequently, the TESS light curves were searched for transits from hot Jupiters. The detection efficiency was determined using injected signals, and the results further corrected for the geometric transit probability to estimate the occurrence rate. Results. Three previously confirmed hot Jupiters were found in the TESS data, in addition to one other TESS object of interest, and two M-dwarf companions. This results in an occurrence rate of 0.37−0.09+0.29%. Due to the still large uncertainties, this cannot be distinguished from that of A-, F-, and G-type stars. We argue that it is unlikely that planet engulfment in expanding red giants plays an important role in this sample

MINDS. JWST/MIRI Reveals a Dynamic Gas-rich Inner Disk inside the Cavity of SY Cha

SY Cha is a T Tauri star surrounded by a protoplanetary disk with a large cavity seen in the millimeter continuum but has the spectral energy distribution of a full disk. Here we report the first results from JWST/Mid-InfraRed Instrument (MIRI) Medium Resolution Spectrometer (MRS) observations taken as part of the MIRI mid-INfrared Disk Survey (MINDS) GTO Program. The much improved resolution and sensitivity of MIRI-MRS compared to Spitzer enables a robust analysis of the previously detected H2O, CO, HCN, and CO2 emission as well as a marginal detection of C2H2. We also report the first robust detection of mid-infrared OH and rovibrational CO emission in this source. The derived molecular column densities reveal the inner disk of SY Cha to be rich in both oxygen- and carbon-bearing molecules. This is in contrast to PDS 70, another protoplanetary disk with a large cavity observed with JWST, which displays much weaker line emission. In the SY Cha disk, the continuum, and potentially the line, flux varies substantially between the new JWST observations and archival Spitzer observations, indicative of a highly dynamic inner disk.</p