A New Classification Scheme for T Tauri Light Curves

Abstract

Based on many years of observational data from a photometric database on young stars, we propose a new classification scheme for the light curves of classical T Tauri stars. Our analysis of master light-curve shapes for 28 classical T Tauri stars is used to distinguish up to five light-curve types. The proposed scheme suggests a qualitative interpretation in terms of interaction of the central star with its circumstellar accretion disk.