98 research outputs found
Neptune at Summer Solstice: Zonal Mean Temperatures from Ground-Based Observations 2003-2007
Imaging and spectroscopy of Neptune's thermal infrared emission is used to
assess seasonal changes in Neptune's zonal mean temperatures between Voyager-2
observations (1989, heliocentric longitude Ls=236) and southern summer solstice
(2005, Ls=270). Our aim was to analyse imaging and spectroscopy from multiple
different sources using a single self-consistent radiative-transfer model to
assess the magnitude of seasonal variability. Globally-averaged stratospheric
temperatures measured from methane emission tend towards a quasi-isothermal
structure (158-164 K) above the 0.1-mbar level, and are found to be consistent
with spacecraft observations of AKARI. This remarkable consistency, despite
very different observing conditions, suggests that stratospheric temporal
variability, if present, is 5 K at 1 mbar and 3 K at 0.1 mbar during
this solstice period. Conversely, ethane emission is highly variable, with
abundance determinations varying by more than a factor of two. The retrieved
C2H6 abundances are extremely sensitive to the details of the T(p) derivation.
Stratospheric temperatures and ethane are found to be latitudinally uniform
away from the south pole (assuming a latitudinally-uniform distribution of
stratospheric methane). At low and midlatitudes, comparisons of synthetic
Voyager-era images with solstice-era observations suggest that tropospheric
zonal temperatures are unchanged since the Voyager 2 encounter, with cool
mid-latitudes and a warm equator and pole. A re-analysis of Voyager/IRIS 25-50
{\mu}m mapping of tropospheric temperatures and para-hydrogen disequilibrium
suggests a symmetric meridional circulation with cold air rising at
mid-latitudes (sub-equilibrium para-H2 conditions) and warm air sinking at the
equator and poles (super-equilibrium para-H2 conditions). The most significant
atmospheric changes are associated with the polar vortex (absent in 1989).Comment: 35 pages, 19 figures. Accepted for publication in Icaru
Dust in Comet C/2007 N3 (Lulin)
We report optical imaging, optical and near-infrared polarimetry, and Spitzer
mid-infrared spectroscopy of comet C/2007 N3 (Lulin). Polarimetric observations
were obtained in R (0.676 micron) at phase angles from 0.44 degrees to 21
degrees with simultaneous observations in H (1.65 micron) at 4.0 degrees,
exploring the negative branch in polarization. Comet C/2007 N3 (Lulin) shows
typical negative polarization in the optical as well as a similar negative
branch near-infrared wavelengths. The 10 micron silicate feature is only weakly
in emission and according to our thermal models, is consistent with emission
from a mixture of silicate and carbon material. We argue that large,
low-porosity (akin to Ballistic Particle Cluster Aggregates) rather absorbing
aggregate dust particles best explain both the polarimetric and the
mid-infrared spectral energy distribution.Comment: 18 pages, 9 figures, 3 table
Silicate Emission in the TW Hydrae Association
The TW Hydrae Association is the nearest young stellar association. Among its
members are HD 98800, HR 4796A, and TW Hydrae itself, the nearest known
classical T Tauri star. We have observed these three stars spectroscopically
between 3 and 13 microns. In TW Hya the spectrum shows a silicate emission
feature that is similar to many other young stars with protostellar disks. The
11.2 micron feature indicative of significant amounts of crystalline olivine is
not as strong as in some young stars and solar system comets. In HR 4796A, the
thermal emission in the silicate feature is very weak, suggesting little in the
way of (small silicate) grains near the star. The silicate band of HD 98800
(observed by us but also reported by Sylvester and Skinner (1996)) is
intermediate in strength between TW Hya and HR 4796.Comment: 22 pages, 11 figures, LaTeX2e and AAS LaTeX macros v5.0. Accepted for
publication in A
Resolving the gap and AU-scale asymmetries in the pre-transitional disk of V1247 Orionis
Pre-transitional disks are protoplanetary disks with a gapped disk structure,
potentially indicating the presence of young planets in these systems. In order
to explore the structure of these objects and their gap-opening mechanism, we
observed the pre-transitional disk V1247 Orionis using the Very Large Telescope
Interferometer, the Keck Interferometer, Keck-II, Gemini South, and IRTF. This
allows us spatially resolve the AU-scale disk structure from near- to
mid-infrared wavelengths (1.5 to 13 {\mu}m), tracing material at different
temperatures and over a wide range of stellocentric radii. Our observations
reveal a narrow, optically-thick inner-disk component (located at 0.18 AU from
the star) that is separated from the optically thick outer disk (radii >46 AU),
providing unambiguous evidence for the existence of a gap in this
pre-transitional disk. Surprisingly, we find that the gap region is filled with
significant amounts of optically thin material with a carbon-dominated dust
mineralogy. The presence of this optically thin gap material cannot be deduced
solely from the spectral energy distribution, yet it is the dominant
contributor at mid-infrared wavelengths. Furthermore, using Keck/NIRC2 aperture
masking observations in the H, K', and L' band, we detect asymmetries in the
brightness distribution on scales of about 15-40 AU, i.e. within the gap
region. The detected asymmetries are highly significant, yet their amplitude
and direction changes with wavelength, which is not consistent with a companion
interpretation but indicates an inhomogeneous distribution of the gap material.
We interpret this as strong evidence for the presence of complex density
structures, possibly reflecting the dynamical interaction of the disk material
with sub-stellar mass bodies that are responsible for the gap clearing.Comment: 16 pages, 17 Figures, accepted by Astrophysical Journa
Mid-Infrared Spectrophotometric Observations of Fragments B and C of Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3
We present mid-infrared spectra and images from the GEMINI-N (+Michelle)
observations of fragments SW3-[B] and SW3-[C] of the ecliptic (Jupiter Family)
comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 pre-perihelion. We observed fragment B soon
after an outburst event (between 2006 April 16 - 26 UT) and detected
crystalline silicates. The mineralogy of both fragments was dominated by
amorphous carbon and amorphous pyroxene. The grain size distribution (assuming
a Hanner modified power-law) for fragment SW3-[B] has a peak grain radius of
a_p ~ 0.5 micron, and for fragment SW3-[C], a_p ~ 0.3 micron; both values
larger than the peak grain radius of the size distribution for the dust ejected
from ecliptic comet 9P/Tempel 1 during the Deep Impact event (a_p = 0.2 micron.
The silicate-to-carbon ratio and the silicate crystalline mass fraction for the
submicron to micron-size portion of the grain size distribution on the nucleus
of fragment SW3-[B] was 1.341 +0.250 -0.253 and 0.335 +0.089 -0.112,
respectively, while on the nucleus of fragment SW3-[C] was 0.671 +0.076 -0.076
and 0.257 +0.039 -0.043, respectively. The similarity in mineralogy and grain
properties between the two fragments implies that 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 is
homogeneous in composition. The slight differences in grain size distribution
and silicate-to-carbon ratio between the two fragments likely arises because
SW3-[B] was actively fragmenting throughout its passage while the activity in
SW3-[C] was primarily driven by jets. The lack of diverse mineralogy in the
fragments SW3-[B] and SW3-[C] of 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 along with the
relatively larger peak in the coma grain size distribution suggests the parent
body of this comet may have formed in a region of the solar nebula with
different environmental properties than the natal sites where comet C/1995 O1
(Hale-Bopp) and 9P/Tempel 1 nuclei aggregated.Comment: 31 pages, 5 figure, accepted for publication in A
Sparse aperture masking interferometry survey of transitional discs Search for substellar-mass companions and asymmetries in their parent discs
Context. Transitional discs are a class of circumstellar discs around young stars with extensive clearing of dusty material within their inner regions on 10s of au scales. One of the primary candidates for this kind of clearing is the formation of planet(s) within the disc that then accrete or clear their immediate area as they migrate through the disc.
Aims. The goal of this survey was to search for asymmetries in the brightness distribution around a selection of transitional disc targets. We then aimed to determine whether these asymmetries trace dynamically-induced structures in the disc or the gap-opening planets themselves.
Methods. Our sample included eight transitional discs. Using the Keck/NIRC2 instrument we utilised the Sparse Aperture Masking (SAM) interferometry technique to search for asymmetries indicative of ongoing planet formation. We searched for close-in companions using both model fitting and interferometric image reconstruction techniques. Using simulated data, we derived diagnostics that helped us to distinguish between point sources and extended asymmetric disc emission. In addition, we investigated the degeneracy between the contrast and separation that appear for marginally resolved companions.
Results. We found FP Tau to contain a previously unseen disc wall, and DM Tau, LkHα330, and TW Hya to contain an asymmetric signal indicative of point source-like emission. We placed upper limits on the contrast of a companion in RXJ 1842.9-3532 and V2246 Oph. We ruled the asymmetry signal in RXJ 1615.3-3255 and V2062 Oph to be false positives. In the cases where our data indicated a potential companion we computed estimates for the value of McṀc and found values in the range of 10−5−10−3 M2J yr−1.
Conclusions. We found significant asymmetries in four targets. Of these, three were consistent with companions. We resolved a previously unseen gap in the disc of FP Tau extending inwards from approximately 10 au
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