112 research outputs found
The Transitional Protoplanetary Disk Frequency as a Function of Age: Disk Evolution in the Coronet Cluster, Taurus, and Other 1--8 Myr-old Regions
We present Spitzer 3.6--24 micron photometry and spectroscopy for stars in
the 1--3 Myr-old Coronet Cluster, expanding upon the survey of Sicilia-Aguilar
et al. (2008). Using sophisticated radiative transfer models, we analyze these
new data and those from Sicilia-Aguilar et al. (2008) to identify disks with
evidence for substantial dust evolution consistent with disk clearing:
transitional disks. We then analyze data in Taurus and others young clusters --
IC 348, NGC 2362, and eta Cha -- to constrain the transitional disk frequency
as a function of time. Our analysis confirms previous results finding evidence
for two types of transitional disks -- those with inner holes and those that
are homologously depleted. The percentage of disks in the transitional phase
increases from ~ 15--20% at 1--2 Myr to > 50% at 5--8 Myr; the mean
transitional disk lifetime is closer to ~ 1 Myr than 0.1--0.5 Myr, consistent
with previous studies by Currie et al. (2009) and Sicilia-Aguilar et al.
(2009). In the Coronet Cluster and IC 348, transitional disks are more numerous
for very low-mass M3--M6 stars than for more massive K5--M2 stars, while Taurus
lacks a strong spectral type-dependent frequency. Assuming standard values for
the gas-to-dust ratio and other disk properties, the lower limit for the masses
of optically-thick primordial disks is Mdisk ~ 0.001--0.003 M*. We find that
single color-color diagrams do not by themselves uniquely identify transitional
disks or primordial disks. Full SED modeling is required to accurately assess
disk evolution for individual sources and inform statistical estimates of the
transitional disk population in large samples using mid-IR colors.Comment: 43 pages in emulateapj format, Accepted for publication in Ap
Accretion in Evolved and Transitional Disks in Cep OB2: Looking for the Origin of the Inner Holes
We present accretion rates for a large number of solar-type stars in the Cep
OB2 region, based on U band observations. Our study comprises 95 members of the
~4 Myr-old cluster Tr 37 (including 20 "transition" objects; TO), as well as
the only CTTS in the ~12 Myr-old cluster NGC 7160. The stars show different
disk morphologies, with the majority of them having evolved and flattened
disks. The typical accretion rates are about one order of magnitude lower than
in regions aged 1-2 Myr, and we find no strong correlation between disk
morphology and accretion rates. Although half of the TO are not accreting, the
median accretion rates of normal CTTS and accreting "transition" disks are
similar (~3 10^{-9} and 2 10^{-9} Msun/yr, respectively). Comparison with other
regions suggests that the TO observed at different ages do not necessarily
represent the same type of objects, which is consistent with the fact that the
different processes that can lead to reduced IR excess/inner disk clearing
(e.g., binarity, dust coagulation/settling, photoevaporation, giant planet
formation) do not operate on the same timescales. Accreting TO in Tr 37 are
probably suffering strong dust coagulation/settling. Regarding the equally
large number of non-accreting TO in the region, other processes, like
photoevaporation, the presence of stellar/substellar companions, and/or giant
planet formation may account for their "transitional" SEDs and negligible
accretion rates.Comment: 37 pages, 5 figures, 6 tables Accepted by Ap
Spitzer IRS Spectroscopy of the 10 Myr-old EF Cha Debris Disk: Evidence for Phyllosilicate-Rich Dust in the Terrestrial Zone
We describe Spitzer IRS spectroscopic observations of the 10 Myr-old star, EF
Cha. Compositional modeling of the spectra from 5 {\mu}m to 35 {\mu}m confirms
that it is surrounded by a luminous debris disk with LD/L\star ~ 10-3,
containing dust with temperatures between 225 K and 430 K characteristic of the
terrestrial zone. The EF Cha spectrum shows evidence for many solid-state
features, unlike most cold, low-luminosity debris disks but like some other
10-20 Myr-old luminous, warm debris disks (e.g. HD 113766A). The EF Cha debris
disk is unusually rich in a species or combination of species whose
emissivities resemble that of finely powdered, laboratory-measured
phyllosilicate species (talc, saponite, and smectite), which are likely
produced by aqueous alteration of primordial anhydrous rocky materials. The
dust and, by inference, the parent bodies of the debris also contain abundant
amorphous silicates and metal sulfides, and possibly water ice. The dust's
total olivine to pyroxene ratio of ~ 2 also provides evidence of aqueous
alteration. The large mass volume of grains with sizes comparable to or below
the radiation blow-out limit implies that planetesimals may be colliding at a
rate high enough to yield the emitting dust but not so high as to devolatize
the planetesimals via impact processing. Because phyllosilicates are produced
by the interactions between anhydrous rock and warm, reactive water, EF Cha's
disk is a likely signpost for water delivery to the terrestrial zone of a young
planetary system.Comment: 21 pages, 10 figures, accepted for publication in The Astrophysical
Journa
Protostars and stars in the Coronet cluster: Age, evolution, and cluster structure
We present new optical spectroscopy with FLAMES/VLT, near-IR imaging with
HAWK-I/VLT, and 870 micron mapping with APEX/LABOCA of the Coronet cluster. The
optical data allow to estimate spectral types, extinction and the presence of
accretion in 6 more M-type members, in addition to the 12 that we had
previously studied. The submillimeter maps and near-IR data reveal the presence
of nebular structures and high extinction regions, which are in some cases
associated to known IR, optical, and X-ray sources. Most star formation is
associated to two elongated structures crossing in the central part of the
cluster. Placing all the 18 objects with known spectral types and extinction in
the HR diagram suggests that the cluster is younger than previously thought (<2
Myr, and probably ~0.5-1 Myr). The new age estimate is in agreement with the
evolutionary status of the various protostars in the region and with its
compactness (<1.3 pc across), but results in a conflict with the low disk and
accretion fraction (only 50-65% of low-mass stars appear to have protoplanetary
disks, and most transitional and homologously depleted disks are consistent
with no accretion) and with the evolutionary features observed in the mid-IR
spectra and spectral energy distributions of the disks.Comment: 30 pages, 9 figures, 6 tables, ApJ in pres
The low-mass stellar population in the young cluster Tr37: Disk evolution, accretion, and environment
We present a study of accretion and protoplanetary disks around M-type stars
in the 4 Myr-old cluster Tr37. With a well-studied solar-type population, Tr37
is a benchmark for disk evolution. We used low-resolution spectroscopy to
identify 141 members (78 new) and 64 probable members, mostly M-type stars.
H\alpha\ emission provides information about accretion. Optical, 2MASS,
Spitzer, and WISE data are used to trace the SEDs. We construct radiative
transfer models to explore the structures of full-disks, pre-transition,
transition, and dust-depleted disks. Including the new and previously known
members, we confirm that a substantial fraction (~2/5) of disks show signs of
evolution, either as radial dust evolution (transition/pre-transition disks) or
as a more global evolution (low small-dust masses, dust settling, and
weak/absent accretion signatures). Accretion is strongly dependent on the SED
type. About half of the transition objects are consistent with no accretion,
and dust-depleted disks have weak (or undetectable) accretion signatures,
especially among M-type stars. The analysis of accretion and disk structure
suggests a parallel evolution of dust and gas. We find several distinct classes
of evolved disks, based on SED type and accretion, pointing to different disk
dispersal mechanisms and probably different evolutionary paths. Dust depletion
and opening of inner holes appear to be independent processes: most transition
disks are not dust-depleted, and most dust-depleted disks do not require inner
holes. The differences in disk structure between M-type and solar-type stars in
Tr37 (4 Myr) are not as remarkable as in the young, sparse, Coronet cluster
(1-2 Myr), suggesting that other factors, like the environment/interactions,
are likely to play a role in the disk evolution and dispersal. Finally, we also
find some evidence of clumpy star formation or mini-clusters within Tr37.Comment: 21 pages, 16 figures, plus appendix with tables and figures. Accepted
by A&
A Herschel view of IC 1396 A: Unveiling the different sequences of star formation
The IC1396A globule in the young cluster Tr37, hosting many young stars and
protostars, is assumed to be a site of triggered star formation. We mapped
IC1396A with Herschel/PACS at 70 and 160 micron. The Herschel maps trace in
great detail the very embedded protostellar objects and the structure of the
cloud. PACS data reveal a previously unknown Class 0 object (IC1396A-PACS-1)
located behind the ionization front. IC1396A-PACS-1 is not detectable with
Spitzer, but shows marginal X-ray emission. The data also allowed to study
three of the Class I intermediate-mass objects within the cloud. We derived
approximate cloud temperatures to study the effect and potential interactions
between the protostars and the cloud. The Class 0 object is associated with the
densest and colder part of IC1396A. Heating in the cloud is dominated by the
winds and radiation of the O6.5 star HD 206267 and, to a lesser extent, by the
effects of the Herbig Ae star V 390 Cep. The surroundings of the Class I and
Class II objects embedded in the cloud also appear warmer than the sourceless
areas, although most of the low-mass objects cannot be individually extracted
due to distance and beam dilution. The observations suggest that at least two
episodes of star formation have occurred in IC1396A. One would have originated
the known, ~1 Myr-old Class I and II objects in the cloud, and a new wave of
star formation would have produced the Class 0 source at the tip of the
brigth-rimmed cloud. From its location and properties, IC1396A-PACS-1 is
consistent with triggering via radiative driven implosion (RDI) induced by HD
206267. The mechanisms behind the formation of the more evolved population of
Class I/II/III objects in the cloud are uncertain. Heating of most of the
remaining cloud by Class I/Class II objects and by HD 206267 itself may
preclude further star formation in the region.Comment: Accepted by A&A, 9 pages, 5 figure
The Elephant Trunk Nebula and the Trumpler 37 cluster: Contribution of triggered star formation to the total population of an HII region
Rich young stellar clusters produce HII regions whose expansion into the
nearby molecular cloud is thought to trigger the formation of new stars.
However, the importance of this mode of star formation is uncertain. This
investigation seeks to quantify triggered star formation (TSF) in IC 1396A
(a.k.a., the Elephant Trunk Nebula), a bright rimmed cloud (BRC) on the
periphery of the nearby giant HII region IC 1396 produced by the Trumpler 37
cluster. X-ray selection of young stars from Chandra X-ray Observatory data is
combined with existing optical and infrared surveys to give a more complete
census of the TSF population. Over 250 young stars in and around IC 1396A are
identified; this doubles the previously known population. A spatio-temporal
gradient of stars from the IC 1396A cloud toward the primary ionizing star HD
206267 is found. We argue that the TSF mechanism in IC 1396A is the
radiation-driven implosion process persisting over several million years.
Analysis of the X-ray luminosity and initial mass functions indicates that >140
stars down to 0.1 Msun were formed by TSF. Considering other BRCs in the IC
1396 HII region, we estimate the TSF contribution for the entire HII region
exceeds 14-25% today, and may be higher over the lifetime of the HII region.
Such triggering on the periphery of HII regions may be a significant mode of
star formation in the Galaxy.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS; 28 pages, 18 figure
Disk evolution in the Ori OB1 association
We analyze multi-band photometry of a subsample of low mass stars in the
associations Ori OB1a and 1b discovered during the CIDA Orion Variability
Survey, which have ages of 7 - 10 Myr and 3 - 5 Myr, respectively. We obtained
UBVRcIc photometry at Mt. Hopkins for 6 Classical T Tauri stars (CTTS) and 26
Weak T Tauri stars (WTTS) in Ori OB1a, and for 21 CTTS and 2 WTTS in Ori OB1b.
We also obtained L band photometry for 14 CTTS at Mt. Hopkins, and 10um and
18um photometry with OSCIR at Gemini for 6 CTTS; of these, all 6 were detected
at 10um while only one was detected at 18um. We estimate mass accretion rates
from the excess luminosity at U, and find that they are consistent with
determinations for a number of other associations, with or without high mass
star formation. The observed decrease of mass accretion rate with age is
qualitatively consistent with predictions of viscous evolution of accretion
disks. We find an overall decrease of disk emission from Taurus to Ori OB1b to
Ori OB1a. This decrease implies that significant grain growth and settling
towards the midplane has taken place in the inner disks of Ori OB1. We compare
the SED of the star detected at both 10um and 18um with disk models for similar
stellar and accretion parameters. We find that the low <= 18 um fluxes of this
Ori OB1b star cannot be due to the smaller disk radius expected from viscous
evolution in the presence of the FUV radiation fields from the OB stars in the
association. Instead, we find that the disk of this star is essentially a flat
disk, with little if any flaring, indicating a a significant degree of dust
settling towards the midplane, as expected from dust evolution in
protoplanetary disks.Comment: 35 pages, 11 figures, to appear in the Astronomical Journal. Full
resolution figures in http://www.cida.ve/~briceno/publications
A 3D view of the Taurus star-forming region by <i>Gaia </i>and <i>Herschel</i>:multiple populations related to the filamentary molecular cloud
Context. Taurus represents an ideal region to study the three-dimensional distribution of the young stellar population and relate it to the associated molecular cloud. Aims. The second Gaia data release (DR2) enables us to investigate the Taurus complex in three dimensions, starting from a previously defined robust membership. The molecular cloud structured in filaments can be traced in emission using the public far-infrared maps from Herschel. Methods. From a compiled catalog of spectroscopically confirmed members, we analyze the 283 sources with reliable parallax and proper motions in the Gaia DR2 archive. We fit the distribution of parallaxes and proper motions with multiple populations described by multivariate Gaussians. We compute the cartesian Galactic coordinates (X,Y,Z) and, for the populations associated with the main cloud, also the galactic space velocity (U,V,W). We discuss the spatial distribution of the populations in relation to the structure of the filamentary molecular cloud traced by Herschel. Results. We discover the presence of six populations which are all well defined in parallax and proper motions, with the only exception being Taurus D. The derived distances range between 130 and 160 pc. We do not find a unique relation between stellar population and the associated molecular cloud: while the stellar population seems to be on the cloud surface, both lying at similar distances, this is not the case when the molecular cloud is structured in filaments. Taurus B is probably moving in the direction of Taurus A, while Taurus E appears to be moving towards them. Conclusions. The Taurus region is the result of a complex star formation history which most probably occurred in clumpy and filamentary structures that are evolving independently
IRAM and Gaia views of multi-episodic star formation in IC1396A:The origin and dynamics of the Class 0 protostar at the edge of an HII region
(Abridged) IC1396A is a cometary globule containing the Class 0 source IC1396A-PACS-1. We use IRAM 30m and Gaia DR2 data to explore the star-formation history of IC1396A and investigate the possibilities of triggered star formation. IRAM and Herschel continuum data reveal dust temperatures and column densities. Heterodyne data reveal the velocity structure of the gas. Gaia DR2 proper motions for the stars complete the kinematics of the region. IC1396A-PACS-1 shows molecular emission similar to a hot corino with warm carbon chain chemistry, and is surrounded by gas at velocities significantly different from the velocities of the Tr37 cluster. Combining the velocity, column density, and temperature information and Gaia DR2 kinematics, we confirm that IC1396A has suffered various episodes of star formation. IC1396A-PACS-1 is probably the last intermediate-mass protostar that will form within IC1396A, showing evidence of triggering by radiative driven implosion. Chemical signatures place IC1396A-PACS-1 among the youngest protostars known. Gaia DR2 data reveal velocities in the plane of the sky 4km/s for IC1396A with respect to Tr37. The total velocity difference (8 km/s) between the Tr37 cluster and IC1396A is too small for IC1396A to have undergone substantial rocket acceleration, which imposes constraints on the distance to the ionizing source in time and the possibilities of triggered star formation. The three stellar populations in the globule reveal that objects located within relatively close distances (<0.5pc) can be formed in various episodes within a 1-2 Myr period. We expect substantial differences in initial conditions for the resulting objects and their protoplanetary disks, which may affect their evolution. Finally, evidence for short-range feedback from the embedded protostars and, in particular, the A-type star V390 Cep is also observed
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