Disk In Keplerian Rotation Research Articles

Early Planet Formation in Embedded Disks (eDisk)

We present the results of the observations made within the ALMA Large Program called Early Planet Formation in Embedded disks of the Class 0 protostar GSS30 IRS3. Our observations included the 1.3 mm continuum with a resolution of 0″.05 (7.8 au) and several molecular species, including 12CO, 13CO, C18O, H2CO, and c-C3H2. The dust continuum analysis unveiled a disk-shaped structure with a major axis of ~200 au. We observed an asymmetry in the minor axis of the continuum emission suggesting that the emission is optically thick and the disk is flared. On the other hand, we identified two prominent bumps along the major axis located at distances of 26 and 50 au from the central protostar. The origin of the bumps remains uncertain and might be an embedded substructure within the disk or the temperature distribution and not the surface density because the continuum emission is optically thick. The 12CO emission reveals a molecular outflow consisting of three distinct components: a collimated component, an intermediate-velocity component exhibiting an hourglass shape, and a wider angle low-velocity component. We associate these components with the coexistence of a jet and a disk wind. The C18O emission traces both a circumstellar disk in Keplerian rotation and the infall of the rotating envelope. We measured a stellar dynamical mass of 0.35 ±0.09 M⊙.

High-resolution Pan-STARRS and SMA Observations of IRAS 23077+6707: A Giant Edge-on Protoplanetary Disk

We present resolved images of IRAS 23077+6707 (“Dracula’s Chivito”) in 1.3 mm/225 GHz thermal dust and CO gas emission with the Submillimeter Array (SMA) and optical (0.5–0.8 μm) scattered light with the Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System (Pan-STARRS). The Pan-STARRS data show a bipolar distribution of optically scattering dust that is characteristic for disks observed at high inclinations. Its scattered light emission spans ∼14″, with two highly asymmetric filaments extending along the upper bounds of each nebula by ∼9″. The SMA data measure 1.3 mm continuum dust as well as 12CO, 13CO, and C18O J = 2 − 1 line emission over 12″–14″ extents, with the gas presenting the typical morphology of a disk in Keplerian rotation, in both position–velocity space and in each CO line spectrum. IRAS 23077+6707 has no reported distance estimate, but if it is located in the Cepheus star-forming region (180–800 pc), it would have a radius spanning thousands of astronomical units. Taken together, we infer IRAS 23077+6707 to be a giant and gas-rich edge-on protoplanetary disk, which to our knowledge is the largest in extent so far discovered.

A Rotating Accretion Disk around MWC 297, a Young B1.5Ve Star

High-resolution spectra with iSHELL on IRTF in the K and M bands of the young, heavily accreting B1.5Ve star MWC 297 show numerous double-peaked CO lines. These CO lines originate in an inclined gaseous disk in Keplerian rotation. MWC 297 is the only early B star known to show a Keplerian disk in CO. Analysis of the spectra shows that 12CO 1–0 is optically thick for the low excitation lines. Even the 13CO 1–0 and 12CO 2–1 have somewhat optically thick lines at low J levels. We find that the CO emission in the disk can be fitted with CO being in a narrow ring at a radius of 12 au, with a temperature of 1500 K and a CO column density of 1.6 × 1018 cm−2. This model underestimates the line strength of high-J lines, indicating that they are excited by fluorescence. The CO overtone lines have a similar temperature. The 13CO lines are much brighter than expected from interstellar isotope ratios. The 13CO lines are wider than the 12CO ones, suggesting different excitation conditions. The same is true for 12CO 2–1. We see strong absorption in 12CO and 13CO 1–0 at low J levels, which is due to two cold foreground clouds. These clouds, one with a temperature of 8.3 K and a column density of 6.7 1017 cm−2 and the other one colder and with lower column density, can fully account for the observed extinction toward MWC 297.

A resolved rotating disk wind from a young T Tauri star in the Bok globule CB 26

Context. The disk-outflow connection plays a key role in extracting excess angular momentum from a forming protostar. Although indications of jet rotation have been reported for a few objects, observational constraints of outflow rotation are still very scarce. We have previously reported the discovery of a small collimated molecular outflow from the edge-on T Tauri star-disk system in the Bok globule CB 26 that shows a peculiar velocity pattern, reminiscent of an outflow that corotates with the Keplerian disk. However, we could not ultimately exclude possible alternative explanations for the origin of the observed velocity field. Aims. We report new, high angular resolution millimeter-interferometric observations of CB 26 with the aim of revealing the morphology and kinematics of the outflow at the disk-outflow interface to unambiguously discriminate between the possible alternative explanations for the observed peculiar velocity pattern. Methods. The IRAM PdBI array and the 30 m telescope were used to observe HCO+(1–0) and H13CO+(1–0) at 3.3 mm and 12CO(2–1) at 1.3 mm in three configurations plus zerospacing, resulting in spectral line maps with angular resolutions of 3.″5 and 0.″5, respectively. The SMA was used to observe the HCO+(3–2) line at 1.1 mm with an angular resolution of 1.″35. Additional earlier observations of 13CO(1-0) at 2.7mm with an angular resolution of 1.″0, obtained with OVRO, are also used for the analysis. Using a physical model of the disk, which was derived from the dust continuum emission, we employed chemo-dynamical modeling combined with line radiative transfer calculations to constrain kinematic parameters of the system and to construct a model of the CO emission from the disk that allowed us to separate the emission of the disk from that of the outflow. Results. Our observations confirm the disk-wind nature of the rotating molecular outflow from CB 26 - YSO 1. The new high-resolution data reveal an X-shaped morphology of the CO emission close to the disk, and vertical streaks extending from the disk surface with a small half-opening angle of ≈7°, which can be traced out to vertical heights of ≈500 au. We interpret this emission as the combination of the disk atmosphere and a well-collimated disk wind, of which we mainly see the outer walls of the outflow cone. The decomposition of this emission into a contribution from the disk atmosphere and the disk wind allowed us to trace the disk wind down to vertical heights of ≈40 au, where it is launched from the surface of the flared disk at radii of RL ≈ 20–45 au. The disk wind is rotating with the same orientation and speed as the Keplerian disk and the velocity structure of the cone walls along the flow is consistent with angular momentum conservation. The observed CO outflow has a total gas mass of ≈ 10−3 M⊙, a dynamical age of τdyn ≈ 740 yr, and a total momentum flux of ṖCO ≈ 1.0 × 10−5 M⊙ km s−1 yr−1, which is nearly three orders of magnitude larger than the maximum thrust that can be provided by the luminosity of the central star. Conclusions. We conclude that photoevaporation cannot be the main driving mechanism for this outflow, but it must be predominantly a magnetohydrodynamic disk wind. It is thus far the best-resolved rotating disk wind observed to be launched from a circumstellar disk in Keplerian rotation around a low-mass young stellar object (YSO), albeit also the one with the largest launch radius. It confirms the observed trend that disk winds from Class I YSOs with transitional disks have much larger launch radii than jets ejected from Class 0 protostars.

V899 Mon: A Peculiar Eruptive Young Star Close to the End of Its Outburst

Abstract The eruptive young star V899 Mon shows characteristics of both FUors and EXors. It reached a peak brightness in 2010, then briefly faded in 2011, followed by a second outburst. We conducted multifilter optical photometric monitoring, as well as optical and near-infrared spectroscopic observations, of V899 Mon. The light curves and color–magnitude diagrams show that V899 Mon has been gradually fading after its second outburst peak in 2018, but smaller accretion bursts are still happening. Our spectroscopic observations taken with Gemini/IGRINS and VLT/MUSE show a number of emission lines, unlike during the outbursting stage. We used the emission line fluxes to estimate the accretion rate and found that it has significantly decreased compared to the outbursting stage. The mass-loss rate is also weakening. Our 2D spectroastrometric analysis of emission lines recovered jet and disk emission of V899 Mon. We found that the emission from permitted metallic lines and the CO bandheads can be modeled well with a disk in Keplerian rotation, which also gives a tight constraint for the dynamical stellar mass of 2 M ⊙. After a discussion of the physical changes that led to the changes in the observed properties of V899 Mon, we suggest that this object is finishing its second outburst.

The GRAVITY young stellar object survey

Context. The formation and evolution of planetary systems impact the evolution of the primordial accretion disk in its dust and gas content. HD 141569 is a peculiar object in this context as it is the only known pre-main sequence star characterized by a hybrid disk. Observations with 8 m class telescopes probed the outer-disk structure showing a complex system of multiple rings and outer spirals. Furthermore, interferometric observations attempted to characterize its inner 5 au region, but derived limited constraints. Aims. The goal of this work was to explore with new high-resolution interferometric observations the geometry, properties, and dynamics of the dust and gas in the internal regions of HD 141569. Methods. We observed HD 141569 on milliarcsecond scales with GRAVITY/VLTI in the near-infrared (IR) at low (R ~ 20) and high (R ~ 4000) spectral resolution. We interpreted the interferometric visibilities and spectral energy distribution with geometrical models and through radiative transfer techniques using the code MCMax to constrain the dust emission. We analyzed the high spectral resolution quantities (visibilities and differential phases) to investigate the properties of the Brackett-γ (Brγ) line emitting region. Results. Thanks to the combination of three different epochs, GRAVITY resolves the inner dusty disk in the K band with squared visibilities down to V2 ~ 0.8. A differential phase signal is also detected in the region of the Brγ line along most of the six baselines. Data modeling shows that an IR excess of about 6% is spatially resolved and that the origin of this emission is confined in a ring of material located at a radius of ~1 au from the star with a width ≲0.3 au. The MCMax modeling suggests that this emission could originate from a small amount (1.4 × 10−8 M⊕) of quantum-heated particles, while large silicate grain models cannot reproduce at the same time the observational constraints on the properties of near-IR and mid-IR fluxes. The high spectral resolution differential phases in the Brγ line clearly show an S-shape that can be best reproduced with a gaseous disk in Keplerian rotation, confined within 0.09 au (or 12.9 R⋆). This is also hinted at by the double-peaked Brγ emission line shape, known from previous observations and confirmed by GRAVITY. The modeling of the continuum and gas emission shows that the inclination and position angle of these two components are consistent with a system showing relatively coplanar rings on all scales. Conclusions. With a new and unique observational dataset on HD 141569, we show that the complex disk of this source is composed of a multitude of rings on all scales. This aspect makes HD 141569 a potentially unique source to investigate planet formation and disk evolution in intermediate-mass pre-main sequence stars.

The H2O Spectrum of the Massive Protostar AFGL 2136 IRS 1 from 2 to 13 μm at High Resolution: Probing the Circumstellar Disk

Abstract We have observed the massive protostar AFGL 2136 IRS 1 in multiple wavelength windows in the near- to mid-infrared at high (∼3 km s−1) spectral resolution using VLT+CRIRES, SOFIA+EXES, and Gemini North+TEXES. There is an abundance of H2O absorption lines from the ν 1 and ν 3 vibrational bands at 2.7 μm, from the ν 2 vibrational band at 6.1 μm, and from pure rotational transitions near 10–13 μm. Analysis of state-specific column densities derived from the resolved absorption features reveals that an isothermal absorbing slab model is incapable of explaining the relative depths of different absorption features. In particular, the strongest absorption features are much weaker than expected, indicating optical depth effects resulting from the absorbing gas being well mixed with the warm dust that serves as the “background” continuum source at all observed wavelengths. The velocity at which the strongest H2O absorption occurs coincides with the velocity centroid along the minor axis of the compact disk in Keplerian rotation recently observed in H2O emission with ALMA. We postulate that the warm regions of this dust disk dominate the continuum emission at near- to mid-infrared wavelengths, and that H2O and several other molecules observed in absorption are probing this disk. Absorption line profiles are not symmetric, possibly indicating that the warm dust in the disk that produces the infrared continuum has a nonuniform distribution similar to the substructure observed in 1.3 mm continuum emission.

Counter-rotation and High-velocity Outflow in the Parsec-scale Molecular Torus of NGC 1068

Abstract We present 1.4 pc resolution observations of 256 GHz nuclear radio continuum and HCN (J = 3 → 2) in the molecular torus of NGC 1068. The integrated radio continuum emission has a flat spectrum consistent with free–free emission and resolves into an X-shaped structure resembling an edge-brightened bicone. HCN is detected in absorption against the continuum, and the absorption spectrum shows a pronounced blue wing that suggests a high-velocity molecular outflow with speeds reaching 450 km s−1. Analysis of the off-nucleus emission line kinematics and morphology reveals two nested, rotating disk components. The inner disk, inside r ∼ 1.2 pc, has kinematics that are consistent with the nearly edge-on, geometrically thin H2O megamaser disk in Keplerian rotation around a central mass of 1.66 × 107 M ⊙. The outer disk, which extends to ∼7 pc radius, counter-rotates relative to the inner disk. The rotation curve of the outer disk is consistent with rotation around the same central mass as the megamaser disk but in the opposite sense. The morphology of the molecular gas is asymmetric around the nuclear continuum source. We speculate that the outer disk formed from more recently introduced molecular gas falling out of the host galaxy or from a captured dwarf satellite galaxy. In NGC 1068, we find direct evidence that the molecular torus consists of counter-rotating and misaligned disks on parsec scales.

Super-Keplerian equatorial outflows in SS 433

Context. The microquasar SS 433 is the only known steady supercritical accretor in the Galaxy. It is well-known for its relativistic baryonic jets, but the system also drives equatorial outflows. These have been routinely detected in radio images, and components associated with a circumbinary disk have also been suggested in optical emission lines.Aims. We aim to spatially resolve the regions producing the stationary emission lines of SS 433 to shed light on its circumbinary structure and outflows. With an estimated binary orbit size of ≲0.1 mas, this requires optical interferometry.Methods. We use the optical interferometer VLTI+GRAVITY to spatially resolve SS 433 in the near-infraredKband at high spectral resolution (R ≈ 4000) on three nights in July 2017. This is the second such observation, after the first one in July 2016.Results. The stationary Brγline in the 2017 observation is clearly dominated by an extended ∼1 mas ∼ 5 AU circumbinary structure perpendicular to the jets with a strong rotation component. The rotation direction is retrograde relative to the jet precession, in accordance with the slaved disk precession model. The structure has a very high specific angular momentum and is too extended to be a stable circumbinary disk in Keplerian rotation; interpreting it as such leads to a very high enclosed massM ≳ 400 M⊙. We instead interpret it as the centrifugal ejection of the circumbinary disk, with the implication that there must be an efficient transfer of specific angular momentum from the binary to the disk. We suggest that the equatorial outflows sometimes seen in radio images result from similar episodes of circumbinary disk centrifugal ejection. In addition to the equatorial structure, we find a very extended ∼6 mas ∼ 30 AU spherical wind component to the Brγline: the entire binary is engulfed in an optically thin spherical line emission envelope.

Compact gaseous accretion disk in Keplerian rotation around MWC 147

Context. The disks around some Herbig Be stars have been observed to be more compact than the expected dust sublimation radius for such objects. Highly refractory dust grains and optically thick gas emission have been proposed as possible explanations for this phenomenon. Aims. Previously, the “undersized” Herbig Be star MWC 147 was observed with interferometry, and the results indicated a presence of a compact gaseous disk based on the measured wavelength-dependence of near-infrared or mid-infrared visibilities. Our aim is to search for direct evidence for the presence of hot gas inside of the expected dust sublimation radius of MWC 147. Methods. By combining VLTI/AMBER spectro-interferometry (R = 12 000) with CRIRES spectroscopy (R = 100 000) we can both spectrally and spatially resolve the Brγ line-emitting gas around MWC 147. Additionally, using CHARA/CLIMB enables us to achieve baseline lengths up to 330 m, offering ~2 times higher angular resolution (and a better position angle coverage) than has previously been achieved with interferometry for MWC 147. To model the continuum we fit our AMBER and CLIMB measurements with a geometric model of an inclined Gaussian distribution as well as a ring model. We fit our high-resolution spectra and spectro-interferometric data with a kinematic model of a disk in Keplerian rotation. Results. Our interferometric visibility modelling of MWC 147 indicates the presence of a compact continuum disk with a close to face-on orientation. We model the continuum with an inclined Gaussian and a ring with a radius of 0.60 mas (0.39 au), which is well within the expected dust sublimation radius of 1.52 au. We detect no significant change in the measured visibilities across the Brγ line, indicating that the line-emitting gas is located in the same region as the continuum-emitting disk. Using our differential phase data we construct photocentre displacement vectors across the Brγ line, revealing a velocity profile consistent with a rotating disk. We fit our AMBER spectro-interferometry data with a kinematic model of a disk in Keplerian rotation, where both the line-emitting and continuum-emitting components of the disk originate from the same compact region close to the central star. The presence of line-emitting gas in the same region as the K-band continuum supports the interpretation that the K-band continuum traces an optically thick gas disk. Conclusions. Our spatially and spectrally resolved observations of MWC 147 reveal that the K-band continuum and Brγ emission both originate from a similar region which is 3.9 times more compact than the expected dust sublimation radius for the star; Brγ is emitted from the accretion disk or disk wind region and exhibits a rotational velocity profile. We conclude that we detect the presence of a compact, gaseous accretion disk in Keplerian rotation around MWC 147.

The HH30 edge-on T Tauri star

Context. The disk-outflow connection is thought to play a key role in extracting excess angular momentum from a forming protostar. HH30 is a rare and beautiful example of a pre-main sequence star exhibiting a flared edge-on disk, an optical jet, and a CO molecular outflow, making this object a case study for the disk-jet-outflow paradigm. Aims. We aim to clarify the origin of the small-scale molecular outflow of HH30 and its link and impact on the accretion disk. Methods. We present ALMA 0.25″ angular resolution observations of the circumstellar disk and outflow around the T Tauri star HH30 in the dust continuum at 1.33 mm and of the molecular line transitions of 12CO(2–1) and 13CO(2–1). We performed a disk subtraction from the 12CO emission, from which we analysed the outflow properties in detail in the altitudes z ≲ 250 au. We fit the transverse position-velocity diagrams across the 12CO outflow to derive the ring positions and projected velocity components (including rotation). We use the results of these fits to discuss the origin of the CO outflow. Results. The 1.3 mm continuum emission shows a remarkable elongated morphology along PA = 31.2∘ ± 0.1∘ that has a constant brightness out to a radius of r = 75 au. The emission is marginally resolved in the transverse direction, implying an intrinsic vertical width ≤24 au and an inclination to the line-of-sight i ≥ 84.8∘. The 13CO emission is compatible with emission from a disk in Keplerian rotation, in agreement with the previous findings. The monopolar outflow, detected in 12CO, arises from the north-eastern face of the disk from a disk radius r ≤ 22 au and extends up to 5″ (or 700 au) above the disk plane. We derive a lower limit to the total mass of the CO cavity/outflow of 1.7 × 10−5 M⊙. The CO cavity morphology is that of a hollow cone with semi-opening angle ∼35∘. The derived kinematics are consistent with gas flowing along the conical surface with constant velocity of 9.3 ± 0.7 km s−1. We detect small rotation signatures (Vϕ sin i ∈ [0.1; 0.5] km s−1) in the same sense as the underlying circumstellar disk. From these rotation signatures we infer an average specific angular momentum of the outflow of 38 ± 15 au km s−1 at altitudes z ≤ 250 au. We also report the detection of small amplitude wiggling (1.2∘) of the CO axis around an average inclination to the line of sight of i = 91∘. Conclusions. The derived morphology and kinematics of the CO cavity are compatible with expectations from a slow disk wind, originating either through photo-evaporation or magneto-centrifugal processes. Under the steady assumption, we derive launching radii in the range 0.5–7 au. In that scenario, we confirm the large minimum mass flux of 9 × 10−8 M⊙ yr−1 for the CO wind. The wind would therefore extract a significant amount of the accreted mass flux through the disk and would likely play a crucial role in the disk evolution. If the CO flow originates from a steady-state disk wind, our ALMA observations rule out the 18 au binary orbital scenario previously proposed to account for the wiggling of the optical jet and favour instead a precession scenario in which the CO flow originates from a circumbinary disk around a close (separation ≤ 3.5 au) binary. Alternatively, the CO outflow could also trace the walls of a stationary cavity created by the propagation of multiple bow shocks. Detailed numerical simulations are under way to fully test the entrainment hypothesis.

Velocity-resolved [O i] 63 μm Emission in the HD 50138 Circumstellar Disk*

Abstract HD 50138 is one of the brightest B[e] stars and is located at a distance of ∼380 pc with strong infrared excess. The star was observed in [O i] 63 μm and [C ii] 158 μm with high velocity resolution with upGREAT on SOFIA. The velocity-resolved [O i] emission provides evidence for a large gas disk, ∼760 au in size, around HD 50138. Whereas previous interferometric observations gave strong evidence for a hot gas and dust disk in Keplerian rotation, our observations are the first to provide unambiguous evidence for a large warm disk around the star. Herschel/PACS observations showed that the [C ii] emission is extended, therefore the [C ii] emission most likely originates from an ionized gas shell created by a past outflow event. We confirm the isolated nature of HD 50138. It is far from any star-forming region and has low proper motion. Neither is there any sign of a remnant cloud from which it could have formed. The extended disk around the star appears to be carbon-poor. It shows OH and [O i] emission, but no CO. The CO abundance appears to be at least an order of magnitude lower than that of OH. Furthermore, 13CO is enriched by more than a factor of five, confirming that the star is not a Herbig Be star. Finally, we note that our high-spectral-resolution [O i] and [C ii] observations provide a very accurate heliocentric velocity of the star, 40.8 ± 0.2 km s−1.

Mass Transport from the Envelope to the Disk of V346 Nor: A Case Study for the Luminosity Problem in an FUor-type Young Eruptive Star

Abstract A long-standing open issue of the paradigm of low-mass star formation is the luminosity problem: most protostars are less luminous than theoretically predicted. One possible solution is that the accretion process is episodic. FU Ori-type stars (FUors) are thought to be the visible examples for objects in the high accretion state. FUors are often surrounded by massive envelopes, which replenish the disk material and enable the disk to produce accretion outbursts. However, we have insufficient information on the envelope dynamics in FUors, about where and how mass transfer from the envelope to the disk happens. Here we present ALMA observations of the FUor-type star V346 Nor at 1.3 mm continuum and in different CO rotational lines. We mapped the density and velocity structure of its envelope and analyze the results using channel maps, position–velocity diagrams, and spectro-astrometric methods. We found that V346 Nor is surrounded by gaseous material on a 10,000 au scale in which a prominent outflow cavity is carved. Within the central ∼700 au, the circumstellar matter forms a flattened pseudo-disk where material is infalling with conserved angular momentum. Within ∼350 au, the velocity profile is more consistent with a disk in Keplerian rotation around a central star of . We determined an infall rate from the envelope onto the disk of yr−1, a factor of a few higher than the quiescent accretion rate from the disk onto the star, hinting at a mismatch between the infall and accretion rates as the cause of the eruption.

Medium-resolution échelle spectroscopy of the Red Square Nebula, MWC 922

Context. Medium-resolution echelle spectra of the Red Square Nebula surrounding the star MWC 922 are presented. The spectra have been obtained in 2010 and 2012 using the X-shooter spectrograph mounted on the Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Paranal, Chile. The spectrum covers a wavelength range between 300 nm−2.5 μ m and shows that the nebula is rich in emission lines. Aims. We aim to identify the emission lines and use them as a tool to determine the physical and chemical characteristics of the nebula. The emission lines are also used to put constraints on the structure of the nebula and on the nature of the central stars.Methods. We analyzed and identified emission lines that indicated that the Red Square Nebula consists of a low density bipolar outflow, eminent in the broad emission component seen in [Fe ii], as well as in P Cygni line profiles indicative of fast outflowing material. The narrow component in the [Fe ii] lines is most likely formed in the photosphere of a surrounding disk. Some of the emission lines show a pronounced double peaked profile, such as Ca ii, indicating an accretion disk in Keplerian rotation around the central star. [O i] emission lines are formed in the neutral atomic zone separating the ionized disk photosphere from the molecular gas in the interior of the disk, which is prominent in molecular CO emission in the near-IR. [N ii] and [S ii] emission clearly originates in a low density but fairly hot (7 000−10 000 K) nebular environment. H i recombination lines trace the extended nebula as well as the photosphere of the disk.Results. These findings put constraints on the evolution of the central objects in MWC 922. The Red Square shows strong similarities to the Red Rectangle Nebula, both in morphology and in its mid-IR spectroscopic characteristics. As for the Red Rectangle, the observed morphology of the nebula reflects mass-loss in a binary system. Specifically, we attribute the biconical morphology and the associated rung-like structure to the action of intermittent jets blown by the accreting companion in a dense shell, which has been created by the primary. We stress, though, that despite the morphological similarities, these two objects represent very different classes of stellar objects.

Radial Surface Density Profiles of Gas and Dust in the Debris Disk around 49 Ceti

Abstract We present ∼0.″4 resolution images of CO(3–2) and associated continuum emission from the gas-bearing debris disk around the nearby A star 49 Ceti, observed with the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (ALMA). We analyze the ALMA visibilities in tandem with the broadband spectral energy distribution to measure the radial surface density profiles of dust and gas emission from the system. The dust surface density decreases with radius between ∼100 and 310 au, with a marginally significant enhancement of surface density at a radius of ∼110 au. The SED requires an inner disk of small grains in addition to the outer disk of larger grains resolved by ALMA. The gas disk exhibits a surface density profile that increases with radius, contrary to most previous spatially resolved observations of circumstellar gas disks. While ∼80% of the CO flux is well described by an axisymmetric power-law disk in Keplerian rotation about the central star, residuals at ∼20% of the peak flux exhibit a departure from axisymmetry suggestive of spiral arms or a warp in the gas disk. The radial extent of the gas disk (∼220 au) is smaller than that of the dust disk (∼300 au), consistent with recent observations of other gas-bearing debris disks. While there are so far only three broad debris disks with well characterized radial dust profiles at millimeter wavelengths, 49 Ceti’s disk shows a markedly different structure from two radially resolved gas-poor debris disks, implying that the physical processes generating and sculpting the gas and dust are fundamentally different.

ALMA observations of the Th 28 protostellar disk

Recently, differences in Doppler shifts across the base of four close classical T Tauri star jets have been detected with the HST in optical and near-ultraviolet (NUV) emission lines, and these Doppler shifts were interpreted as rotation signatures under the assumption of steady state flow. To support this interpretation, it is necessary that the underlying disks rotate in the same sense. Agreement between disk rotation and jet rotation determined from optical lines has been verified in two cases and rejected in one case. Meanwhile, the NUV lines, which may trace faster and more collimated inner spines of the jet than optical lines, either agree or show no clear indication. We propose to perform this test on the fourth system, Th 28. We present ALMA high angular resolution Band 7 continuum, 12CO(3-2) and 13CO(2-1) observations of the circumstellar disk around the T Tauri star Th 28. We were able to detect, in CO and continuum, clear signatures of a disk in Keplerian rotation around Th28. The 12CO emission is resolved, allowing us to derive estimates of disk position angle and inclination. The large velocity separation of the peaks in 12CO, combined with the resolved extent of the emission, indicate a central stellar mass in the range 1-2 Msun. The rotation sense of the disk is well detected in both 13CO and 12CO emission lines, and this direction is opposite to that implied by the transverse Doppler shifts measured in the optical lines of the jet. The Th 28 system is the second system where counter-rotation between the disk and the optical jet is detected. These findings imply either that optical transverse velocity gradients detected with HST do not trace jet rotation or that modeling the flow with the steady assumption is not valid. In both cases jet rotation studies that rely solely on optical lines are not suitable to derive the launching radius of the jet.

The peculiar fast-rotating star 51 Ophiuchi probed by VEGA/CHARA

Stellar rotation is a key in our understanding of both mass-loss and evolution of intermediate and massive stars. It can lead to anisotropic mass-loss in the form of radiative wind or an excretion disk. We wished to spatially resolve the photosphere and gaseous environment of 51 Oph, a peculiar star with a very high vsin(i) of 267km s$^{-1}$ and an evolutionary status that remains unsettled. It has been classified by different authors as a Herbig, a $\beta$ Pic, or a classical Be star. We used the VEGA visible beam combiner installed on the CHARA array that reaches a submilliarcsecond resolution. Observation were centered on the H$\alpha$ emission line. We derived, for the first time, the extension and flattening of 51 Oph photosphere. We found a major axis of $\theta_{{\mathrm{eq}}}$=8.08$\pm$0.70$R_\odot$ and a minor axis of $\theta_{{\mathrm{pol}}}$=5.66$\pm$0.23$R_\odot$ . This high photosphere distortion shows that the star is rotating close to its critical velocity. Finally, using spectro-interferometric measurements in the H$ \alpha$ line, we constrained the circumstellar environment geometry and kinematics and showed that the emission is produced in a 5.2$\pm$2R$_{*}$ disk in Keplerian rotation. From the visible point of view, 51 Oph presents all the features of a classical Be star: near critical-rotation and double-peaked H$\alpha $ line in emission produced in a gaseous disk in Keplerian rotation. However, this does not explain the presence of dust as seen in the mid-infrared and millimeter spectra, and the evolutionary status of 51 Oph remains unsettled.

ANGULAR MOMENTUM EXCHANGE BY GRAVITATIONAL TORQUES AND INFALL IN THE CIRCUMBINARY DISK OF THE PROTOSTELLAR SYSTEM L1551 NE

We report an ALMA observation of the Class I binary protostellar system L1551 NE in the 0.9 mm continuum, C18O (3–2), and 13CO (3–2) lines at a ∼1.6 times higher resolution and a ∼6 times higher sensitivity than those of our previous SubMillimeter Array (SMA) observations, which revealed a r ∼ 300 AU scale circumbinary disk in Keplerian rotation. The 0.9 mm continuum shows two opposing U-shaped brightenings in the circumbinary disk and exhibits a depression between the circumbinary disk and the circumstellar disk of the primary protostar. The molecular lines trace non-axisymmetric deviations from Keplerian rotation in the circumbinary disk at higher velocities relative to the systemic velocity, where our previous SMA observations could not detect the lines. In addition, we detect inward motion along the minor axis of the circumbinary disk. To explain the newly observed features, we performed a numerical simulation of gas orbits in a Roche potential tailored to the inferred properties of L1551 NE. The observed U-shaped dust features coincide with locations where gravitational torques from the central binary system are predicted to impart angular momentum to the circumbinary disk, producing shocks and hence density enhancements seen as a pair of spiral arms. The observed inward gas motion coincides with locations where angular momentum is predicted to be lowered by the gravitational torques. The good agreement between our observation and model indicates that gravitational torques from the binary stars constitute the primary driver for exchanging angular momentum so as to permit infall through the circumbinary disk of L1551 NE.

THE GAS-RICH CIRCUMBINARY DISK OF HR 4049. II. A DETAILED STUDY OF THE NEAR-INFRARED SPECTRUM

HR 4049 is a peculiar evolved binary which is surrounded by a circumbinary disk. Mid-infrared observations show that the disk is rich in molecular gas and radially extended. To study the properties of this disk, we re-analyzed a set of near-infrared observations at high spectral resolution obtained with Gemini-Phoenix. These data cover absorption lines originating from the first overtone of CO and from \hoh in the 2.3 $\mu$m region as well as more complex emission-absorption profiles from \hoh and the fundamental mode of CO near 4.6 $\mu$m. By using an excitation diagram and from modeling the spectrum, we find that most of the CO overtone and \hoh absorption originates from hot gas ($T_{\rm ex} \approx 1000$~K) with high column densities, consistent with the mid-infrared data. The strong emission in the wavelength range of the CO fundamental furthermore suggests that there is a significant quantity of gas in the inner cavity of the disk. In addition, there is a much colder component in the line of sight to the disk. A detailed analysis of the overtone line profiles reveals variations in the line widths which are consistent with a radially extended disk in Keplerian rotation with hotter gas closer to the central star. We estimate the mass of the primary to be $\sim 0.34$~M$_{\odot}$ and discuss the implications for its evolutionary status.

GG Tauri: the fifth element

We aim at unveiling the observational imprint of physical mechanisms that govern planetary formation in young, multiple systems. In particular, we investigate the impact of tidal truncation on the inner circumstellar disks. We observed the emblematic system GG Tau at high-angular resolution: a hierarchical quadruple system composed of low-mass T Tauri binary stars surrounded by a well-studied, massive circumbinary disk in Keplerian rotation. We used the near-IR 4-telescope combiner PIONIER on the VLTI and sparse-aperture-masking techniques on VLT/NaCo to probe this proto-planetary system at sub-AU scales. We report the discovery of a significant closure-phase signal in H and Ks bands that can be reproduced with an additional low-mass companion orbiting GG Tau Ab, at a (projected) separation rho = 31.7 +/- 0.2mas (4.4 au) and PA = 219.6 +/- 0.3deg. This finding offers a simple explanation for several key questions in this system, including the missing-stellar-mass problem and the asymmetry of continuum emission from the inner dust disks observed at millimeter wavelengths. Composed of now five co-eval stars with 0.02 <= Mstar <= 0.7 Msun, the quintuple system GG Tau has become an ideal test case to constrain stellar evolution models at young ages (few 10^6yr).