2015ApJ...806...75K -
Astrophys. J., 806, 75 (2015/June-2)
A ring of C2 H in the molecular disk orbiting TW Hya.
KASTNER J.H., QI C., GORTI U., HILY-BLANT P., OBERG K., FORVEILLE T., ANDREWS S. and WILNER D.
Abstract (from CDS):
We have used the Submillimeter Array to image, at Å1."5 resolution, C2 H emission from the circumstellar disk orbiting the nearby (D = 54 pc), Å8 Myr-old, Å0.8 classical T Tauri star TW Hya. The SMA imaging reveals that the C2H emission exhibits a ring-like morphology. Based on a model in which the C2H column density follows a truncated radial power-law distribution, we find that the inner edge of the ring lies at Å45 AU, and that the ring extends to at least Å120 AU. Comparison with previous (single-dish) observations of C2H emission indicates that the C2H molecules are subthermally excited and, hence, that the emission arises from the relatively warm ( K), tenuous (/cm3) upper atmosphere of the disk. Based on these results and comparisons of the SMA C2H map with previous submillimeter and scattered-light imaging, we propose that the C2H emission most likely traces particularly efficient photo-destruction of small grains and/or photodesorption and photodissociation of hydrocarbons derived from grain ice mantles in the surface layers of the outer disk. The presence of a C2 H ring in the TW Hya disk hence likely serves as a marker of dust grain processing and radial and vertical grain size segregation within the disk.
Abstract Copyright:
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Journal keyword(s):
circumstellar matter - protoplanetary disks - stars: individual: TW Hya - stars: pre-main sequence
Simbad objects:
9
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