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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Discovery Of Co Gas In The Inner Disk Of Tw Hydrae, Terrence W. Rettig, Joe Haywood, Theodore Simon, Sean D. Brittain, Erika Gibb Aug 2014

Discovery Of Co Gas In The Inner Disk Of Tw Hydrae, Terrence W. Rettig, Joe Haywood, Theodore Simon, Sean D. Brittain, Erika Gibb

Sean D Brittain

We report the detection of rovibrationally excited CO emission from the inner disk of the classical T Tauri star (cTTS) TW Hya. We observe ~6 × 1021 g of CO gas with a rotational temperature of 430 ± 40 K. The linearity of the excitation plot suggests that the CO is optically thin. Atypical for cTTSs, hot CO was not detected, implying that TW Hya has cleared its inner disk region out to a radial distance of ~0.5 AU. We discuss implications for the structure of the disk as it relates to replenishment and planet formation.


Post-Outburst Observations Of V1647 Orionis: Detection Of A Brief Warm Molecular Outflow, Sean D. Brittain, Terrence W. Rettig, Theodore Simon, Dinshaw S. Balsara, David Tilley, Erika Gibb, Kenneth H. Hinkle Aug 2014

Post-Outburst Observations Of V1647 Orionis: Detection Of A Brief Warm Molecular Outflow, Sean D. Brittain, Terrence W. Rettig, Theodore Simon, Dinshaw S. Balsara, David Tilley, Erika Gibb, Kenneth H. Hinkle

Sean D Brittain

We present new observations of the fundamental rovibrational CO spectrum of V1647 Ori, the young star whose recent outburst illuminated McNeil's Nebula. Previous spectra, acquired during outburst in 2004 February and July, had shown the CO emission lines to be broad and centrally peaked, similar to the CO spectrum of a typical classical T Tauri star. In this Letter, we present CO spectra acquired shortly after the luminosity of the source returned to its pre-outburst level (2006 February) and roughly 1 year later (2006 December and 2007 February). The spectrum taken in 2006 February revealed blueshifted CO absorption lines superimposed …


Infrared High-Resolution Spectroscopy Of Post-Agb Circumstellar Disks. I. Hr 4049: The Winnowing Flow Observed?, Kenneth H. Hinkle, Sean D. Brittain, David L. Lambert Aug 2014

Infrared High-Resolution Spectroscopy Of Post-Agb Circumstellar Disks. I. Hr 4049: The Winnowing Flow Observed?, Kenneth H. Hinkle, Sean D. Brittain, David L. Lambert

Sean D Brittain

High-resolution infrared spectroscopy in the 2.3-4.6 micron region is reported for the peculiar A supergiant, single-lined spectroscopic binary HR 4049. Lines from the CO fundamental and first overtone, OH fundamental, and several H2O vibration-rotation transitions have been observed in the near-infrared spectrum. The spectrum of HR 4049 appears principally in emission through the 3 and 4.6 micron region and in absorption in the 2 micron region. The 4.6 micron spectrum shows a rich 'forest' of emission lines. All the spectral lines observed in the 2.3-4.6 micron spectrum are shown to be circumbinary in origin. The presence of OH and H2O …


The Evolution Of Protoplanetary Disks: A Decade Of Hst Coronagraphy, Sean Brittain, C Grady, G Schneider, B E. Woodgate, J P. Wisniewski, M L. Sitko, K Collins Aug 2014

The Evolution Of Protoplanetary Disks: A Decade Of Hst Coronagraphy, Sean Brittain, C Grady, G Schneider, B E. Woodgate, J P. Wisniewski, M L. Sitko, K Collins

Sean D Brittain

No abstract provided.


Water Depletion In The Disk Atmosphere Of Herbig Aebe Stars, D Fedele, I Pascucci, Sean D. Brittain, I Kamp, P Woitke, J P. Williams, W.R.F. Dent, W F. Thi Aug 2014

Water Depletion In The Disk Atmosphere Of Herbig Aebe Stars, D Fedele, I Pascucci, Sean D. Brittain, I Kamp, P Woitke, J P. Williams, W.R.F. Dent, W F. Thi

Sean D Brittain

We present high-resolution (R ∼ 100,000) L-band spectroscopy of 11 Herbig AeBe stars with circumstellar disks. The observations were obtained with the VLT/CRIRES to detect hot water and hydroxyl radical emission linespreviously detected in disks around T Tauri stars. OH emission lines are detected toward four disks. The OH 2Π3/2 P4.5 (1+,1−) doublet is spectrally resolved as well as the velocity profile of each component of the doublet. Its characteristic double-peak profile demonstrates that the gas is in Keplerian rotation and points to an emitting region extending out to ∼15–30 AU. The OH emission correlates with disk geometry as it …


The Gas/Dust Ratio Of Circumstellar Disks: Testing Models Of Planetesimal Formation, David Horne, Erika Gibb, Terrence Rettig, Sean Brittain, David Tilley, Dinshaw Balsara Aug 2014

The Gas/Dust Ratio Of Circumstellar Disks: Testing Models Of Planetesimal Formation, David Horne, Erika Gibb, Terrence Rettig, Sean Brittain, David Tilley, Dinshaw Balsara

Sean D Brittain

We present high-resolution, near-infrared NIRSPEC observations of CO absorption toward six class II T Tauri stars: AA Tau, DG Tau, IQ Tau, RY Tau, CW Tau, and Haro 6–5b. 12CO overtone absorption lines originating from the circumstellar disk of each object were used to calculate line-of-sight gas column densities toward each source. We measured the gas/dust ratio as a function of disk inclination, utilizing measured visual extinctions and inclinations for each star. The majority of our sources show further evidence for a correlation between the gas/dust columndensity ratio and disk inclination similar to that found by Rettig et al.


Dust Stratification In Young Circumstellar Disks, Terrence Rettig, Sean D. Brittain, Theodore Simon, Erika Gibb, Dinshaw S. Balsara, David A. Tilley, Craig Kulesa Aug 2014

Dust Stratification In Young Circumstellar Disks, Terrence Rettig, Sean D. Brittain, Theodore Simon, Erika Gibb, Dinshaw S. Balsara, David A. Tilley, Craig Kulesa

Sean D Brittain

We present high-resolution infrared spectra of four YSOs (T Tau N, T Tau S, RNO 91, and HL Tau). The spectra exhibit narrow absorption lines of 12CO, 13CO, and C18O, as well as broad emission lines of gas-phase 12CO. The narrow absorption lines of CO are shown to originate from the colder circumstellar gas. We find that the line-of-sight gas column densities resulting from the CO absorption lines are much higher than expected for the measured extinction for each source and suggest the gas/dust ratio is measuring the dust settling and/or grain coagulation in these extended disks. We provide a …


Near-Infrared Spectroscopic Study Of V1647 Ori, Sean D. Brittain, T W. Rettig, Theodore Simon, Erika L. Gibb, Joseph Liskowsky Aug 2014

Near-Infrared Spectroscopic Study Of V1647 Ori, Sean D. Brittain, T W. Rettig, Theodore Simon, Erika L. Gibb, Joseph Liskowsky

Sean D Brittain

We present new high-resolution infrared echelle spectra of V1647 Ori, the young star that illuminates McNeil's nebula. From the start, V1647 Ori has been an enigmatic source that has defied classification, in some ways resembling eruptive stars of the FUor class and in other respects the EXor variables. V1647 Ori underwent an outburst in 2003 before fading back to its pre-outburst brightness in 2006. In 2008, it underwent a new outburst. In this paper we present high-resolution K-band and M-band spectra from the W. M. Keck Observatory that were acquired during the 2008 outburst. We compare the spectra to spectra …


The Upper Limit For Ch4 In The Protostellar Disk Toward Hl Tauri, E L. Gibb, T Rettig, Sean D. Brittain, R Haywood, Theodore Simon, C Kulesa Aug 2014

The Upper Limit For Ch4 In The Protostellar Disk Toward Hl Tauri, E L. Gibb, T Rettig, Sean D. Brittain, R Haywood, Theodore Simon, C Kulesa

Sean D Brittain

We used high-resolution infrared spectra of the heavily embedded T Tauri star HL Tau to search for evidence of absorption due to the R0, R1, and R2 gas-phase CH4 ν3 lines near 3.3 μm. From this, we report a 3 σ upper limit of 1.3 × 1015 cm-2 for the CH4 gas column density toward HL Tau. Our results are compared to those found for CO gas toward this source and to the recent model for chemistry in the inner (10 AU) disks around T Tauri stars by Markwick et al. We find that the upper limit of methane ice+gas …


Gasps - A Herschel Survey Of Gas And Dust In Protoplanetary Disks: Summary And Initial Statistics, W.R.F. Dent, W F. Thi, I Kamp, J P. Williams, F Menard, S Andrews, D Ardila, G Aresu, J C. Augereau, D Barrado Y Navascues, Sean Brittain Aug 2014

Gasps - A Herschel Survey Of Gas And Dust In Protoplanetary Disks: Summary And Initial Statistics, W.R.F. Dent, W F. Thi, I Kamp, J P. Williams, F Menard, S Andrews, D Ardila, G Aresu, J C. Augereau, D Barrado Y Navascues, Sean Brittain

Sean D Brittain

We describe a large-scale far-infrared line and continuum survey of protoplanetary disk through to young debris disk systems carried out using the ACS instrument on the Herschel Space Observatory. This Open Time Key program, known as GASPS (Gas Survey of Protoplanetary Systems), targeted ∼250 young stars in narrow wavelength regions covering the [OI] fine structure line at 63 μm the brightest far-infrared line in such objects. A subset of the brightest targets were also surveyed in [OI]145 μm, [CII] at 157 μm, as well as several transitions of H_2O and high-excitation CO lines at selected wavelengths between 78 and 180 …


A Spectro-Astrometric Measurement Of Brackett Gamma Emission In Herbig Ae/Be Stars, Thomas S. Rice, Sean D. Brittain Aug 2014

A Spectro-Astrometric Measurement Of Brackett Gamma Emission In Herbig Ae/Be Stars, Thomas S. Rice, Sean D. Brittain

Sean D Brittain

In T Tauri stars, the Brackett gamma line strength is a reliable indicator of accretion luminosity. Among intermediate mass young stars, Herbig Ae stars also show this correlation, but in Herbig Be stars the Brgamma line flux significantly overpredicts accretion luminosity. This Brgamma excess in Herbig Be stars is thought to arise from a spatially extended outflow. Using commissioning data from the LUCIFER spectrograph on the 8.4-meter Large Binocular Telescope (LBT), we present a spectro-astrometric study of two Herbig Ae/Be stars, the HAe star MWC480 and the HBe star HD 259431. In both stars, an extended Brgamma source can be …


Co Emission And Absorption Toward V1647 Orionis (Mcneil's Nebula), Terrence W. Rettig, Sean D. Brittain, Erika Gibb, Theodore Simon, Craig Kulesa Aug 2014

Co Emission And Absorption Toward V1647 Orionis (Mcneil's Nebula), Terrence W. Rettig, Sean D. Brittain, Erika Gibb, Theodore Simon, Craig Kulesa

Sean D Brittain

We present high-resolution infrared spectra of V1647 Ori, the illuminating star of McNeil's Nebula, which reveal the presence of hot and cold gas-phase CO and ices of CO and H2O. The emission lines of 12CO (10), (21), and (32) likely originate from 2500 K gas in an inner accretion disk region, where substantial clearing of dust has occurred. The width of the emission lines increases with increasing J-value, suggesting that the hottest CO gas we detect is located closest to the central star. The narrower widths of the low-J CO emission lines are indicative of more distant, cooler material in …


Modeling Gas Distribution In Protoplanetary Accretion Disks, Martin Kronberg, Josiah Lewis, Sean D. Brittain Aug 2014

Modeling Gas Distribution In Protoplanetary Accretion Disks, Martin Kronberg, Josiah Lewis, Sean D. Brittain

Sean D Brittain

Protoplanetary accretion disks are disks of dust and gas which surround and feed material onto a forming star in the earliest stages of its evolution. One of the most useful methods for studying these disks is near infrared spectroscopy of rovibrational CO emission. This paper presents the methods in which synthetically generated spectra are modeled and fit to spectral data gathered from protoplanetary disks. This paper also discussed the methods in which this code can be improved by modifying the code to run a Monte Carlo analysis of best fit across the CONDOR cluster at Clemson University, thereby allowing for …


Tracing The Inner Edge Of The Disk Around Hd 100546 With Rovibrational Co Emission Lines, Sean D. Brittain, Joan R. Najita, John S. Carr Aug 2014

Tracing The Inner Edge Of The Disk Around Hd 100546 With Rovibrational Co Emission Lines, Sean D. Brittain, Joan R. Najita, John S. Carr

Sean D Brittain

In this paper we present high-resolution 4.7 μm spectra of the isolated Herbig Be star HD 100546. HD 100546 has been the subject of intense scrutiny because it is a young nearby star with a transitional disk. We observe the Δv = 1 rovibrational CO transitions in order to clarify the distribution of warm gas in the inner disk. Modeling of the CO spectrum indicates that the gas is vibrationally excited by collisions and UV fluorescence. The observed emission extends from 13 to 100 AU. The inner edge of the molecular gas emission is consistent with the inner edge of …


Probing The Gaseous Disk Of T Tau N With Cn 5-4 Lines, L Podio, I Kamp, C Codella, B Nisini, G Aresu, Sean D. Brittain, S Cabrit, C Dougados, C Grady, R Meijerink, G Sandell, M Spaans, W.-F. Thi, G J. White, P Woitke Aug 2014

Probing The Gaseous Disk Of T Tau N With Cn 5-4 Lines, L Podio, I Kamp, C Codella, B Nisini, G Aresu, Sean D. Brittain, S Cabrit, C Dougados, C Grady, R Meijerink, G Sandell, M Spaans, W.-F. Thi, G J. White, P Woitke

Sean D Brittain

We present spectrally resolved observations of the young multiple system T Tau in atomic and molecular lines obtained with the Heterodyne Instrument for the Far Infrared on board Herschel. While CO, H2O, [Cii], and SO lines trace the envelope and the outflowing gas up to velocities of 33 km s−1 with respect to systemic, the CN 5–4 hyperfine structure lines at 566.7, 566.9 GHz show a narrow double-peaked profile centered at systemic velocity, consistent with an origin in the outer region of the compact disk of T Tau N. Disk modeling of the T Tau N disk with the thermo-chemical …


Herschel/Pacs Observations Of Young Sources In Taurus: The Far-Infrared Counterpart Of Optical Jets, L Podio, I Kamp, D Flower, C Howard, G Sandell, A Mora, G Aresu, Sean D. Brittain, W.R.F. Dent, C Pinte, G J. White Aug 2014

Herschel/Pacs Observations Of Young Sources In Taurus: The Far-Infrared Counterpart Of Optical Jets, L Podio, I Kamp, D Flower, C Howard, G Sandell, A Mora, G Aresu, Sean D. Brittain, W.R.F. Dent, C Pinte, G J. White

Sean D Brittain

Context. Observations of the atomic and molecular line emission associated with jets and outflows emitted by young stellar objects provide sensitive diagnostics of the excitation conditions, and can be used to trace the various evolutionary stages they pass through as they evolve to become main sequence stars. Aims. To understand the relevance of atomic and molecular cooling in shocks, and how accretion and ejection efficiency evolves with the evolutionary state of the sources, we will study the far-infrared counterparts of bright optical jets associated with Class I and II sources in Taurus (T Tau, DG Tau A, DG Tau B, …


Co Line Emission And Absorption From The Hl Tauri Disk-Where Is All The Dust?, Sean D. Brittain, Terrence W. Rettig, Theodore Simon, Craig Kulesa Aug 2014

Co Line Emission And Absorption From The Hl Tauri Disk-Where Is All The Dust?, Sean D. Brittain, Terrence W. Rettig, Theodore Simon, Craig Kulesa

Sean D Brittain

We present high-resolution infrared spectra of HL Tau, a heavily embedded young star. The spectra exhibit broad emission lines of 12CO gas-phase molecules, as well as narrow absorption lines of 12CO, 13CO, and C18O. The broad emission lines of vibrationally excited 12CO are dominated by the hot (T ~ 1500 K) inner disk. The narrow absorption lines of CO are found to originate from the circumstellar gas at a temperature of ~100 K. The 12CO column density for this cooler material [(7.5 ± 0.2) × 1018 cm-2] indicates a large column of absorbing gas along the line of sight. In …


Detection Of Ch+ Emission From The Disc Around Hd 100546, W F. Thi, F Menard, G Meeus, C. Martin-Zaidi, P Woitke, E Tatulli, M Benisty, I Kamp, I Pascucci, C Pinte, C A. Grady, Sean D. Brittain, G J. White, C D. Howard, G Sandell, C Eiroa Aug 2014

Detection Of Ch+ Emission From The Disc Around Hd 100546, W F. Thi, F Menard, G Meeus, C. Martin-Zaidi, P Woitke, E Tatulli, M Benisty, I Kamp, I Pascucci, C Pinte, C A. Grady, Sean D. Brittain, G J. White, C D. Howard, G Sandell, C Eiroa

Sean D Brittain

Despite its importance in the thermal balance of the gas and in the determination of primeval planetary atmospheres, the chemistry in protoplanetary discs remains poorly constrained with only a handful of detected species. We observed the emission from the disc around the Herbig Be star HD 100546 with the PACS instrument in the spectroscopic mode on board the Herschel Space Telescope as part of the GAS in Protoplanetary Systems (GASPS) programme and used archival data from the DIGIT programme to search for the rotational emission of CH+. We detected in both datasets an emission line centred at 72.16 μm that …


Warm Gas In The Inner Disks Around Young Intermediate-Mass Stars, Sean D. Brittain, Theodore Simon, Joan R. Najita, Terrence W. Rettig Aug 2014

Warm Gas In The Inner Disks Around Young Intermediate-Mass Stars, Sean D. Brittain, Theodore Simon, Joan R. Najita, Terrence W. Rettig

Sean D Brittain

The characterization of gas in the inner disks around young stars is of particular interest because of its connection to planet formation. In order to study the gas in inner disks, we have obtained high-resolution K- and M-band spectroscopy of 14 intermediate-mass young stars. In sources that have optically thick inner disks, i.e., E(K-L)>1, our detection rate of the rovibrational CO transitions is 100%, and the gas is thermally excited. Of the five sources that do not have optically thick inner disks, we only detect the rovibrational CO transitions from HD 141569. In this case, we show that the …


Nature Of The Gas And Dust Around 51 Oph, W F. Thi, F Menard, G Meeus, A Carmona, P Riviere-Marichalar, J C. Augereau, I Kamp, P Woitke, C Pinte, I Mendigutia, C Eiroa, B Montesinos, Sean D. Brittain, W Dent Aug 2014

Nature Of The Gas And Dust Around 51 Oph, W F. Thi, F Menard, G Meeus, A Carmona, P Riviere-Marichalar, J C. Augereau, I Kamp, P Woitke, C Pinte, I Mendigutia, C Eiroa, B Montesinos, Sean D. Brittain, W Dent

Sean D Brittain

Circumstellar disc evolution is paramount for the understanding of planet formation. The GASPS program aims at determining the circumstellar gas and solid mass around ~250 pre-main-sequence Herbig Ae and TTauri stars. We aim to understand the origin and nature of the circumstellar matter orbiting 51 Oph, a young (Myr) luminous B9.5 star. We obtained continuum and line observations with the PACS instrument on board the Herschel Space Observatory and continuum data at 1.2 mm with the IRAM 30m telescope. The SED and line fluxes were modelled using the physico-chemo radiative transfer code ProDiMo. We detected a strong emission by OI …


Locating The Accretion Footprint On A Herbig Ae Star: Mwc 480, C A. Grady, K Hamaguchi, G Schneider, B Stecklum, B E. Woodgate, J E. Mccleary, G M. Williger, M L. Sitko, F Menard, Th. Henning, Sean D. Brittain Aug 2014

Locating The Accretion Footprint On A Herbig Ae Star: Mwc 480, C A. Grady, K Hamaguchi, G Schneider, B Stecklum, B E. Woodgate, J E. Mccleary, G M. Williger, M L. Sitko, F Menard, Th. Henning, Sean D. Brittain

Sean D Brittain

Accretion is a fundamental process which establishes the dynamics of the protoplanetary disk and the final properties of the forming star. In solar-type stars, the star–disk coupling is determined by the magnetic field structure, which is responsible for funneling material from the disk midplane to higher latitudes on the star. Here, we use pan-chromatic data for the Herbig Ae star MWC 480 to address whether similar processes occur in intermediatemass stars. MWC 480 has X-ray emission typical of actively accreting Herbig Ae stars, but with ∼10× more photoelectric absorption than expected from optical and FUV data. We consider three sources …


Co Emission In The Inner Disk Around Young Intermediate-Mass Stars, Matt L. Stevans, Sean D. Brittain Aug 2014

Co Emission In The Inner Disk Around Young Intermediate-Mass Stars, Matt L. Stevans, Sean D. Brittain

Sean D Brittain

We present observations that indicate viscous heating contributes significantly to the surface heating of the inner disk region (0.1-5 AU) around young intermediate-mass stars, Herbig AeBe stars, when the inner disk is optically thick. Brgamma flux is known to scale with accretion rate around young stars. We find a trend between Brgamma and CO emissivity, a tracer 1, 500 K gas in the gaseous atmospheres of less evolved inner disk regions in a sample of 25 Herbig AeBe stars, the higher mass analog of T Tauri stars. Evolved Herbig circumstellar disks do not follow this trend as closely. A thermal …


The Herschel View Of Gas In Protoplanetary Systems (Gasps). First Comparisons With A Large Grid Of Models, C Pinte, P Woitke, F Menard, G Duchene, I Kamp, G Meeus, G Mathews, C D. Howard, C A. Grady, W.-F. Thi, I Tilling, J.-C. Augereau, W.R.F. Dent, J M. Alacid, S Andrews, D R. Ardila, G Aresu, D Barrado, Sean D. Brittain, D R. Ciardi Aug 2014

The Herschel View Of Gas In Protoplanetary Systems (Gasps). First Comparisons With A Large Grid Of Models, C Pinte, P Woitke, F Menard, G Duchene, I Kamp, G Meeus, G Mathews, C D. Howard, C A. Grady, W.-F. Thi, I Tilling, J.-C. Augereau, W.R.F. Dent, J M. Alacid, S Andrews, D R. Ardila, G Aresu, D Barrado, Sean D. Brittain, D R. Ciardi

Sean D Brittain

The Herschel GASPS key program is a survey of the gas phase of protoplanetary discs, targeting 240 objects which cover a large range of ages, spectral types, and disc properties. To interpret this large quantity of data and initiate self-consistent analyses of the gas and dust properties of protoplanetary discs, we have combined the capabilities of the radiative transfer code MCFOST with the gas thermal balance and chemistry code ProDiMo to compute a grid of ≈300 000 disc models (DENT). We present a comparison of the first Herschel/GASPS line and continuum data with the predictions from the DENT grid of …


Revealing The Structure Of A Pre-Transitional Disk: The Case Of The Herbig F Star Sao 206462 (Hd 135344b), C A. Grady, G Schneider, M L. Sitko, G M. Williger, K Hamaguchi, Sean D. Brittain, K Ablordeppey, D Apai, L Beerman, W J. Carpenter Aug 2014

Revealing The Structure Of A Pre-Transitional Disk: The Case Of The Herbig F Star Sao 206462 (Hd 135344b), C A. Grady, G Schneider, M L. Sitko, G M. Williger, K Hamaguchi, Sean D. Brittain, K Ablordeppey, D Apai, L Beerman, W J. Carpenter

Sean D Brittain

SAO 206462 (HD 135344B) has previously been identified as a Herbig F star with a circumstellar disk with a dip in its infrared excess near 10 mum. In combination with a low accretion rate estimated from Br gamma, it may represent a gapped, but otherwise primordial or "pre-transitional" disk. We test this hypothesis with Hubble Space Telescope coronagraphic imagery, FUV spectroscopy and imagery and archival X-ray data, and spectral energy distribution (SED) modeling constrained by the observed system inclination, disk outer radius, and outer disk radial surface brightness (SB) profile using the Whitney Monte Carlo Radiative Transfer Code. The essentially …


Ro-Vibrational Co Detected In The Β Pictoris Circumstellar Disk, Matthew R. Troutman, Kenneth H. Hinkle, Joan R. Najita, Terrence W. Rettig, Sean D. Brittain Aug 2014

Ro-Vibrational Co Detected In The Β Pictoris Circumstellar Disk, Matthew R. Troutman, Kenneth H. Hinkle, Joan R. Najita, Terrence W. Rettig, Sean D. Brittain

Sean D Brittain

We present high-resolution near-infrared spectra of β Pictoris—a nearby young star with a debris disk. Fundamental low-J CO absorption lines are detected and strict upper limits are placed on the flux of v = 2–1 low-J CO emission lines. The limit on the UV fluorescent emission flux in the v = 2–1 lines is used to place a tight constraint on the inner extent of the CO gas. Assuming Hi is the primary collision partner, the sub-thermal population of the low-J v = 0 rotational levels constrains the density of the gas in the disk to nH = (2.5+7.1 −1.2)×105 …


Accretion Variability Of Herbig Ae/Be Stars Observed By X-Shooter Hd 31648 And Hd 163296, I Mendigutia, Sean D. Brittain, C Eiroa, G Meeus, B Montesinos, A Mora, J Muzerolle, R D. Oudmaijer, E Rigliaco Aug 2014

Accretion Variability Of Herbig Ae/Be Stars Observed By X-Shooter Hd 31648 And Hd 163296, I Mendigutia, Sean D. Brittain, C Eiroa, G Meeus, B Montesinos, A Mora, J Muzerolle, R D. Oudmaijer, E Rigliaco

Sean D Brittain

This work presents X-Shooter/Very Large Telescope spectra of the prototypical, isolated Herbig Ae stars HD 31648 (MWC 480) and HD 163296 over five epochs separated by timescales ranging from days to months. Each spectrum spans over a wide wavelength range covering from 310 to 2475 nm. We have monitored the continuum excess in the Balmer region of the spectra and the luminosity of 12 ultraviolet, optical, and near-infrared spectral lines that are commonly used as accretion tracers for T Tauri stars. The observed strengths of the Balmer excesses have been reproduced from a magnetospheric accretion shock model, providing a mean …


Gas In Protoplanetary Systems (Gasps). I. First Results, G Mathews, W.R.F. Dent, J Williams, C Howard, G Meeus, B Riaz, A Roberge, G Sandell, B Vandenbussche, G Duchene, I Kamp, F Menard, B Montesinos, C Pinte, W. Thi, P Woitke, J Alacid, S Andrews, D Ardila, G Aresu, J Augereau, D Barrado, Sean Brittain Aug 2014

Gas In Protoplanetary Systems (Gasps). I. First Results, G Mathews, W.R.F. Dent, J Williams, C Howard, G Meeus, B Riaz, A Roberge, G Sandell, B Vandenbussche, G Duchene, I Kamp, F Menard, B Montesinos, C Pinte, W. Thi, P Woitke, J Alacid, S Andrews, D Ardila, G Aresu, J Augereau, D Barrado, Sean Brittain

Sean D Brittain

Context. Circumstellar discs are ubiquitous around young stars, but rapidly dissipate their gas and dust on timescales of a few Myr. The Herschel Space Observatory allows for the study of the warm disc atmosphere, using far-infrared spectroscopy to measure gas content and excitation conditions, and far-IR photometry to constrain the dust distribution. Aims. We aim to detect and characterize the gas content of circumstellar discs in four targets as part of the Herschel science demonstration phase. Methods. We carried out sensitive medium resolution spectroscopy and high sensitivity photometry at λ ∼60–190 μm using the Photodetector Array Camera and Spectrometer instrument …


The Unusual Protoplanetary Disk Around The T Tauri Star Et Chamaeleontis, P Woitke, B Riaz, G Duchene, I Pascucci, A Ran Lyo, W.R.F. Dent, N Phillips, W Thi, F Menard, G Herczeg, E Bergin, A Brown, A Mora, I Kamp, G Aresu, Sean Brittain, I De Gregorio-Monsalvo, G Sandell Aug 2014

The Unusual Protoplanetary Disk Around The T Tauri Star Et Chamaeleontis, P Woitke, B Riaz, G Duchene, I Pascucci, A Ran Lyo, W.R.F. Dent, N Phillips, W Thi, F Menard, G Herczeg, E Bergin, A Brown, A Mora, I Kamp, G Aresu, Sean Brittain, I De Gregorio-Monsalvo, G Sandell

Sean D Brittain

We present new continuum and line observations, along with modelling, of the faint (6−8) Myr old T Tauri star ETCha belonging to the η Chamaeleontis cluster. We have acquired Herschel/PACS photometric fluxes at 70 μm and 160 μm, as well as a detection of the [OI] 63 μm fine-structure line in emission, and derived upper limits for some other far-IR OI, CII, CO and o-H2O lines. These observations were carried out in the frame of the open time key programme GASPS, where ETCha was selected as one of the science demonstration phase targets. The Herschel data is complemented by new …


Post-Outburst Infrared Spectra Of V1647 Ori, The Illuminating Star Of Mcneil's Nebula, E L. Gibb, T W. Rettig, Sean D. Brittain, D Wasikowski, Theodore Simon, William D. Vacca, Michael C. Cushing, C Kulesa Aug 2014

Post-Outburst Infrared Spectra Of V1647 Ori, The Illuminating Star Of Mcneil's Nebula, E L. Gibb, T W. Rettig, Sean D. Brittain, D Wasikowski, Theodore Simon, William D. Vacca, Michael C. Cushing, C Kulesa

Sean D Brittain

V1647 Ori is a low mass star in the L1630 star-forming region that underwent an outburst in late 2003/early 2004. We present post-outburst infrared spectra obtained with NIRSPEC (Keck II) and SpeX (IRTF) and compare these to spectra taken during the outburst. The results show that the temperature of the hot CO formed in the inner part of the disk has declined by ~800 K, while the water and CO ice and low-J CO gas features remained unchanged, consistent with previous assertions that the latter, low-temperature features arise in the foreground cloud. The P-Cygni profiles of the Paschen series that …


Gas Lines From The 5-Myr Old Optically Thin Disk Around Hd141569a, W F. Thi, C Pinte, E Pantin, J C. Augereau, G Meeus, F Menard, C Martin-Zaidi, P Woitke, P Riviere-Marichalar, I Kamp, A Carmona, G Sandell, C Eiroa, W Dent, B Montesinos, G Aresu, R Meijerink, M Spaans, G White, D Ardila, J Lebreton, I Mendigutia, Sean D. Brittain Aug 2014

Gas Lines From The 5-Myr Old Optically Thin Disk Around Hd141569a, W F. Thi, C Pinte, E Pantin, J C. Augereau, G Meeus, F Menard, C Martin-Zaidi, P Woitke, P Riviere-Marichalar, I Kamp, A Carmona, G Sandell, C Eiroa, W Dent, B Montesinos, G Aresu, R Meijerink, M Spaans, G White, D Ardila, J Lebreton, I Mendigutia, Sean D. Brittain

Sean D Brittain

At the distance of 99-116 pc, HD141569A is one of the nearest HerbigAe stars that is surrounded by a tenuous disk, probably in transition between a massive primordial disk and a debris disk. We observed the fine-structure lines of OI at 63 and 145 micron and the CII line at 157 micron with the PACS instrument onboard the Herschel Space Telescope as part of the open-time large programme GASPS. We complemented the atomic line observations with archival Spitzer spectroscopic and photometric continuum data, a ground-based VLT-VISIR image at 8.6 micron, and 12CO fundamental ro-vibrational and pure rotational J=3-2 observations. We …