Herbig Ae Star Research Articles

Molecules with ALMA at Planet-forming Scales (MAPS). VI. Distribution of the Small Organics HCN, C2H, and H2CO

Abstract Small organic molecules, such as C2H, HCN, and H2CO, are tracers of the C, N, and O budget in protoplanetary disks. We present high-angular-resolution (10–50 au) observations of C2H, HCN, and H2CO lines in five protoplanetary disks from the Molecules with ALMA at Planet-forming Scales (MAPS) ALMA Large Program. We derive column density and excitation temperature profiles for HCN and C2H, and find that the HCN emission arises in a temperate (20–30 K) layer in the disk, while C2H is present in relatively warmer (20–60 K) layers. In the case of HD 163296, we find a decrease in column density for HCN and C2H inside one of the dust gaps near ∼83 au, where a planet has been proposed to be located. We derive H2CO column density profiles assuming temperatures between 20 and 50 K, and find slightly higher column densities in the colder disks around T Tauri stars than around Herbig Ae stars. The H2CO column densities rise near the location of the CO snowline and/or millimeter dust edge, suggesting an efficient release of H2CO ices in the outer disk. Finally, we find that the inner 50 au of these disks are rich in organic species, with abundances relative to water that are similar to cometary values. Comets could therefore deliver water and key organics to future planets in these disks, similar to what might have happened here on Earth. This paper is part of the MAPS special issue of the Astrophysical Journal Supplement.

Molecules with ALMA at Planet-forming Scales (MAPS). XVII. Determining the 2D Thermal Structure of the HD 163296 Disk

Abstract Understanding the temperature structure of protoplanetary disks is key to interpreting observations, predicting the physical and chemical evolution of the disk, and modeling planet formation processes. In this study, we constrain the two-dimensional thermal structure of the disk around the Herbig Ae star HD 163296. Using the thermochemical code RAC2D, we derive a thermal structure that reproduces spatially resolved Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array observations (∼0.″12 (13 au)–0.″25 (26 au)) of 12CO J = 2 − 1, 13CO J = 1 − 0, 2 − 1, C18O J = 1 − 0, 2 − 1, and C17O J = 1 − 0, the HD J = 1 − 0 flux upper limit, the spectral energy distribution (SED), and continuum morphology. The final model incorporates both a radial depletion of CO motivated by a timescale shorter than typical CO gas-phase chemistry (0.01 Myr) and an enhanced temperature near the surface layer of the the inner disk (z/r ≥ 0.21). This model agrees with the majority of the empirically derived temperatures and observed emitting surfaces derived from the J = 2 − 1 CO observations. We find an upper limit for the disk mass of 0.35 M ⊙, using the upper limit of the HD J = 1 − 0 and J = 2 − 1 flux. With our final thermal structure, we explore the impact that gaps have on the temperature structure constrained by observations of the resolved gaps. Adding a large gap in the gas and small dust additionally increases gas temperature in the gap by only 5%–10%. This paper is part of the MAPS special issue of the Astrophysical Journal Supplement.

Variability of Disk Emission in Pre-main Sequence and Related Stars. V. Occultation Events from the Innermost Disk Region of the Herbig Ae Star HD 163296

Abstract HD 163296 is a Herbig Ae star that underwent a dramatic ∼0.8 magnitude drop in brightness in the V photometric band in 2001 and a brightening in the near-IR in 2002. Because the star possesses Herbig–Haro objects traveling in outflowing bipolar jets, it was suggested that the drop in brightness was due to a clump of dust entrained in a disk wind, blocking the line of sight toward the star. In order to quantify this hypothesis, we investigated the brightness drop at visible wavelengths and the brightening at near-IR wavelengths of HD 163296 using the Monte Carlo Radiative Transfer Code, HOCHUNK3D. We created three models to understand the events. Model 1 describes the quiescent state of the system. Model 2 describes the change in structure that led to the drop in brightness in 2001. Model 3 describes the structure needed to produce the observed 2002 brightening of the near-IR wavelengths. Models 2 and 3 utilize a combination of a disk wind and central bipolar flow. By introducing a filled bipolar cavity in Models 2 and 3, we were able to successfully simulate a jet-like structure for the star with a disk wind and created the drop and subsequent increase in brightness of the system. On the other hand, when the bipolar cavity is not filled, Model 1 replicates the quiescent state of the system.

A MUSE view of the asymmetric jet from HD 163296

Context. Jets and outflows are thought to play important roles in regulating star formation and disk evolution. An important question is how the jets are launched. HD 163296 is a well-studied Herbig Ae star that hosts proto-planet candidates, a protoplanetary disk, a protostellar jet, and a molecular outflow, which makes it an excellent laboratory for studying jets. Aims. We aim to characterize the jet at the inner regions and check if there are large differences with the features at large separations. A secondary objective is to demonstrate the performance of Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) in high-contrast imaging of extended line emission. Methods. MUSE in the narrow field mode (NFM) can provide observations at optical wavelengths with high spatial (∼75 mas) and medium spectral (R ∼ 2500) resolution. With the high-resolution spectral differential imaging technique, we can characterize the kinematic structures and physical conditions of jets down to 100 mas. Results. We detect multiple atomic lines in two new knots, B3 and A4, at distances of < 4″ from the host star with MUSE. The derived Ṁjet/Ṁacc is about 0.08 and 0.06 for knots B3 and A4, respectively. The observed [Ca II]/[S II] ratios indicate that there is no sign of dust grains at distances of < 4″. Assuming the A4 knot traced the streamline, we can estimate a jet radius at the origin by fitting the half width half maximum of the jet, which sets an upper limit of 2.2 au on the size of the launching region. Although MUSE has the ability to detect the velocity shifts caused by high- and low-velocity components, we found no significant evidence of velocity decrease transverse to the jet direction in our 500 s MUSE observation. Conclusions. Our work demonstrates the capability of using MUSE NFM observations for the detailed study of stellar jets in the optical down to 100 mas. The derived Ṁjet/Ṁacc, no dust grain, and jet radius at the star support the magneto-centrifugal models as a launching mechanism for the jet.

A CO-to-H2 Ratio of ≈10−5 toward the Herbig Ae Star HK Ori

Abstract Measurements of gas mass in protoplanetary gas disks form the basis for estimating the conditions of planet formation. Among the most important constraints derived from disk diagnostics are the abundances of gas-phase species critical for understanding disk chemistry. Toward this end, we present direct line-of-sight measurements of H2 and CO, employing UV absorption spectroscopy from Hubble Space Telescope Cosmic Origins Spectrograph to characterize disk composition, molecular excitation temperatures, and spatial distribution in the circumstellar material around the Herbig Ae stars HK Ori and T Ori. We observe strong CO (N(CO) = 1015.5 cm−2; T rot(CO) = 19 K) and H2 (N(H2) = 1020.34 cm−2; T rot(H2) = 141 K) absorption toward HK Ori with a CO/H2 ratio of (≡N(CO)/N(H2)) = × 10−5. These measurements place direct empirical constraints on the CO-to-H2 conversion factor in the disk around a Herbig Ae star for the first time, although there is uncertainty concerning the exact viewing geometry of the disk. The spectra of T Ori show CO (N(CO) = 1014.9 cm−2; T rot(CO) = 124 K) absorption. Interestingly, we do not detect any H2 absorption toward this star (N(H2) < 1015.9 cm−2). We discuss a potential scenario for the detection of CO without H2, which deserves further investigation. The low abundance ratio measured around HK Ori suggests significant depletion of CO in the circumstellar gas, which conforms with the handful of other recent CO abundance measurements in protoplanetary disks.

Chemically tracing the water snowline in protoplanetary disks with HCO+

Context. The formation of planets is expected to be enhanced around snowlines in protoplanetary disks, in particular around the water snowline. Moreover, freeze-out of abundant volatile species in disks alters the chemical composition of the planet-forming material. However, the close proximity of the water snowline to the host star combined with the difficulty of observing water from Earth makes a direct detection of the water snowline in protoplanetary disks challenging. HCO+ is a promising alternative tracer of the water snowline. The destruction of HCO+ is dominated by gas-phase water, leading to an enhancement in the HCO+ abundance once water is frozen out. Aims. Following earlier observed correlations between water and H13CO+ emission in a protostellar envelope, the aim of this research is to investigate the validity of HCO+ and the optically thin isotopologue H13CO+ as tracers of the water snowline in protoplanetary disks and the required sensitivity and resolution to observationally confirm this. Methods. A typical Herbig Ae disk structure is assumed, and its temperature structure is modelled with the thermochemical code DALI. Two small chemical networks are then used and compared to predict the HCO+ abundance in the disk: one without water and one including water. Subsequently, the corresponding emission profiles are modelled for the J = 2−1 transition of H13CO+ and HCO+, which provides the best balance between brightness and the optical depth effects of the continuum emission and is less affected by blending with complex molecules. Models are then compared with archival ALMA data. Results. The HCO+ abundance jumps by two orders of magnitude over a radial range of 2 AU outside the water snowline, which in our model is located at 4.5 AU. We find that the emission of H13CO+ and HCO+ is ring-shaped due to three effects: destruction of HCO+ by gas-phase water, continuum optical depth, and molecular excitation effects. Comparing the radial emission profiles for J = 2−1 convolved with a 0′′.05 beam reveals that the presence of gas-phase water causes an additional drop of only ~13 and 24% in the centre of the disk for H13CO+ and HCO+, respectively. For the much more luminous outbursting source V883 Ori, our models predict that the effects of dust and molecular excitation do not limit HCO+ as a snowline tracer if the snowline is located at radii larger than ~40 AU. Our analysis of recent archival ALMA band 6 observations of the J = 3−2 transition of HCO+ is consistent with the water snowline being located around 100 AU, further out than was previously estimated from an intensity break in the continuum emission. Conclusions. The HCO+ abundance drops steeply around the water snowline, when water desorbs in the inner disk, but continuum optical depth and molecular excitation effects conceal the drop in HCO+ emission due to the water snowline. Therefore, locating the water snowline with HCO+ observations in disks around Herbig Ae stars is very difficult, but it is possible for disks around outbursting stars such as V883 Ori, where the snowline has moved outwards.

A Dust Trap in the Young Multiple System HD 34700

Abstract Millimeter observations of disks around young stars reveal substructures indicative of gas pressure traps that may aid grain growth and planet formation. We present Submillimeter Array observations of HD 34700: two Herbig Ae stars in a close binary system (Aa/Ab, ∼0.25 au), surrounded by a disk presenting a large cavity and spiral arms seen in scattered light, and two distant, lower-mass companions. These observations include 1.3 mm continuum emission and the 12CO 2–1 line at ∼05 (178 au) resolution. They resolve a prominent azimuthal asymmetry in the continuum and Keplerian rotation of a circumbinary disk in the 12CO line. The asymmetry is located at a radius of 155+11 −7 au, consistent with the edge of the scattered-light cavity, being resolved in both radius (72 +14 −15 au) and azimuth (FWHM = 64°+8 −7). The strong asymmetry in millimeter continuum emission could be evidence for a dust trap, together with the more symmetric morphology of 12CO emission and small grains. We hypothesize an unseen circumbinary companion responsible for the cavity in scattered light and creating a vortex at the cavity edge that manifests in dust trapping. The disk mass has limitations imposed by the detection of 12CO and nondetection of 13CO. We discuss its consequences for the potential past gravitational instability of this system, likely accounting for the rapid formation of a circumbinary companion. We also report the discovery of resolved continuum emission associated with HD 34700B (projected separation ∼1850 au), which we explain through a circumstellar disk.

Discovery of an M-type companion to the Herbig Ae Star V1787 Ori

ABSTRACT The intermediate-mass Herbig Ae star V1787 Ori is a member of the L1641 star-forming region in the Orion A molecular cloud. We report the detection of an M-type companion to V1787 Ori at a projected separation of 6.66 arcsec (corresponding to 2577 au), from the analysis of VLT/NACO adaptive optics Ks-band image. Using astrometric data from Gaia DR2, we show that V1787 Ori A and B share similar distance (d ∼ 387 pc) and proper motion, indicating that they are physically associated. We estimate the spectral type of V1787 Ori B to be M5 ± 2 from colour–spectral type calibration tables and template matching using SpeX spectral library. By fitting PARSEC models in the Pan-STARRS colour–magnitude diagram, we find that V1787 Ori B has an age of 8.1$^{+1.7}_{-1.5}$ Myr and a mass of 0.39$^{+0.02}_{-0.05}$ M⊙. We show that V1787 Ori is a pre-main-sequence wide binary system with a mass ratio of 0.23. Such a low-mass ratio system is rarely identified in Herbig Ae/Be binary systems. We conclude this work with a discussion on possible mechanisms for the formation of V1787 Ori wide binary system.

AB Aur, a Rosetta stone for studies of planet formation

Context.AB Aur is a Herbig Ae star that hosts a prototypical transition disk. The disk shows a plethora of features connected with planet formation mechanisms, such as spiral arms, dust cavities, and dust traps. Understanding the physical and chemical characteristics of these features is crucial to advancing our knowledge of the planet formation processes.Aims.We aim to characterize the gaseous disk around the Herbig Ae star AB Aur. A complete spectroscopic study was performed using NOEMA to determine the physical and chemical conditions with high spatial resolution.Methods.We present new NOrthern Extended Millimeter Array (NOEMA) interferometric observations of the continuum and12CO,13CO, C18O, H2CO, and SO lines obtained at high resolution. We used the integrated intensity maps and stacked spectra to derive reliable estimates of the disk temperature. By combining our13CO and C18O observations, we computed the gas-to-dust ratio along the disk. We also derived column density maps for the different species and used them to compute abundance maps. The results of our observations were compared with a set of Nautilus astrochemical models to obtain insight into the disk properties.Results.We detected continuum emission in a ring that extends from 0.6′′ to ~2.0′′, peaking at 0.97′′ and with a strong azimuthal asymmetry. The molecules observed show different spatial distributions, and the peaks of the distributions are not correlated with the binding energy. Using H2CO and SO lines, we derived a mean disk temperature of 39 K. We derived a gas-to-dust ratio that ranges from 10 to 40 along the disk. Abundance with respect to13CO for SO (~2 × 10−4) is almost one order of magnitude greater than the value derived for H2CO (1.6 × 10−5). The comparison with Nautilus models favors a disk with a low gas-to-dust ratio (40) and prominent sulfur depletion.Conclusions.From a very complete spectroscopic study of the prototypical disk around AB Aur, we derived, for the first time, the gas temperature and the gas-to-dust ratio along the disk, providing information that is essential to constraining hydrodynamical simulations. Moreover, we explored the gas chemistry and, in particular, the sulfur depletion. The derived sulfur depletion is dependent on the assumed C/O ratio. Our data are better explained with C/O ~ 0.7 and S/H = 8 × 10−8.

First Images of the Protoplanetary Disk around PDS 201

Abstract Scattered light imaging has revealed nearly a dozen circumstellar disks around young Herbig Ae/Be stars—enabling studies of structures in the upper disk layers as potential signs of ongoing planet formation. We present the first images of the disk around the variable Herbig Ae star PDS 201 (V* V351 Ori) and an analysis of the images and spectral energy distribution through 3D Monte Carlo radiative transfer simulations and forward modeling. The disk is detected in three data sets with the Large Binocular Telescope Interferometer/Large Binocular Telescope mid-infrared camera at the Large Binocular Telescope, including direct observations in the Ks and L′ filters, and an L′ observation with the 360° vector apodizing phase plate coronagraph. The scattered light disk extends to a very large radius of ∼250 au, which places it among the largest of such disks. Exterior to the disk, we establish detection limits on substellar companions down to ∼5 M Jup at ≳1.″5 (≳500 au), assuming the Baraffe et al. models. The images show a radial gap extending to ∼0.″4 (∼140 au at a distance of 340 pc) that is also evident in the spectral energy distribution. The large gap is a possible signpost of multiple high-mass giant planets at orbital distances (∼60–100 au) that are unusually massive and widely separated compared to those of planet populations previously inferred from protoplanetary disk substructures.

The Planetary Luminosity Problem: “Missing Planets” and the Observational Consequences of Episodic Accretion

Abstract The high occurrence rates of spiral arms and large central clearings in protoplanetary disks, if interpreted as signposts of giant planets, indicate that gas giants commonly form as companions to young stars (<few Myr) at orbital separations of 10–300 au. However, attempts to directly image this giant planet population as companions to more mature stars (>10 Myr) have yielded few successes. This discrepancy could be explained if most giant planets form by “cold start,” i.e., by radiating away much of their formation energy as they assemble their mass, rendering them faint enough to elude detection at later times. In that case, giant planets should be bright at early times, during their accretion phase, and yet forming planets are detected only rarely through direct imaging techniques. Here we explore the possibility that the low detection rate of accreting planets is the result of episodic accretion through a circumplanetary disk. We also explore the possibility that the companion orbiting the Herbig Ae star HD 142527 may be a giant planet undergoing such an accretion outburst.

An Unbiased ALMA Spectral Survey of the LkCa 15 and MWC 480 Protoplanetary Disks

Abstract The volatile contents of protoplanetary disks both set the potential for planetary chemistry and provide valuable probes of defining disk system characteristics such as stellar mass, gas mass, ionization, and temperature structure. Current disk molecular inventories are fragmented, however, giving an incomplete picture: unbiased spectral line surveys are needed to assess the volatile content. We present here an overview of such a survey of the protoplanetary disks around the Herbig Ae star MWC 480 and the T Tauri star LkCa 15 in ALMA Band 7, spanning ∼36 GHz from 275 to 317 GHz and representing an order of magnitude increase in sensitivity over previous single-dish surveys. We detect 14 molecular species (including isotopologues), with five species (C34S, 13CS, H2CS, DNC, and C2D) detected for the first time in protoplanetary disks. Significant differences are observed in the molecular inventories of MWC 480 and LkCa 15, and we discuss how these results may be interpreted in light of the different physical conditions of these two disk systems.

An ALMA/NOEMA study of gas dissipation and dust evolution in the 5 Myr-old HD 141569A hybrid disc

Context.The study of gas-rich debris discs is fundamental to characterising the transition between protoplanetary discs and debris discs.Aims.We determine the physical parameters of the brightest gas-rich debris disc orbiting HD 141569A.Methods.We analyse images from the NOrthern Extended Millimeter Array (NOEMA)1and the Atacama Large Millimeter/ submillimeter Array (ALMA) in12CO,13COJ= 2 → 1, and13COJ= 1 → 0 transitions. We incorporate ALMA archival data of the12COJ= 3 → 2 transition and present continuum maps at 0.87, 1.3, and 2.8 mm. We use simple parametric laws with the Diskfit code and MCMC exploration to characterise the gas disc parameters and report a first attempt to characterise its chemical content with IRAM-30 m.Results.The continuum emission is equally shared between a compact (≲50 au) and a smooth, extended dust component (~350 au). Large millimetre grains seem to dominate the inner regions, while the dust spectral index is marginally larger in the outer region. The12CO is optically thick, while13CO is optically thin withτ13CO~ 0.15 (C18O is not detected). The13CO surface density is constrained to be one order of magnitude smaller than around younger Herbig Ae stars, and we derive a gas massM12CO= 10−1M⊕. We confirm the presence of a small CO cavity (RCO= 17 ± 3 au), and find a possibly larger radius for the optically thin13COJ= 2 → 1 transition (35 ± 5 au). We show that the observed CO brightness asymmetry is coincident with the complex ring structures discovered with VLT/SPHERE in the inner 90 au. The12CO temperatureT0(100 au) ~ 30 K is lower than expected for a Herbig A0 star, and could be indicative of subthermal excitation.Conclusions.With the largest amount of dust and gas among hybrid discs, HD 141569A shows coincident characteristics of both protoplanetary discs (central regions), and debris discs at large distance. Together with its morphological characteristics and young age, it appears to be a good candidate to witness the transient phase of gas dissipation, with an apparently large gas-to-dust ratio (G∕D> 100) favouring a faster evolution of dust grains.

Shadowing and multiple rings in the protoplanetary disk of HD 139614

Context. Shadows in scattered light images of protoplanetary disks are a common feature and support the presence of warps or misalignments between disk regions. These warps are possibly caused by an inclined (sub-)stellar companion embedded in the disk. Aims. We aim to study the morphology of the protoplanetary disk around the Herbig Ae star HD 139614 based on the first scattered light observations of this disk, which we model with the radiative transfer code MCMax3D. Methods. We obtained J- and H-band observations that show strong azimuthal asymmetries in polarized scattered light with VLT/SPHERE. In the outer disk, beyond ~30 au, a broad shadow spans a range of ~240 deg in position angle, in the east. A bright ring at ~16 au also shows an azimuthally asymmetric brightness, with the faintest side roughly coincidental with the brightest region of the outer disk. Additionally, two arcs are detected at ~34 and ~50 au. We created a simple four-zone approximation to a warped disk model of HD 139614 in order to qualitatively reproduce these features. The location and misalignment of the disk components were constrained from the shape and location of the shadows they cast. Results. We find that the shadow on the outer disk covers a range of position angles too wide to be explained by a single inner misaligned component. Our model requires a minimum of two separate misaligned zones – or a continuously warped region – to cast this broad shadow on the outer disk. A small misalignment of ~4° between adjacent components can reproduce most of the observed shadow features. Conclusions. Multiple misaligned disk zones, potentially mimicking a warp, can explain the observed broad shadows in the HD 139614 disk. A planetary mass companion in the disk, located on an inclined orbit, could be responsible for such a feature and for the dust-depleted gap responsible for a dip in the SED.

Variable Warm Dust around the Herbig Ae Star HD 169142: Birth of a Ring?*

Abstract The Herbig Ae star HD 169142 is known to have a gaseous disk with a large inner hole, and also a photometrically variable inner dust component in the sub-astronomical-unit region. Following up on our previous analysis, we further studied the temporal evolution of inner dust around HD 169142, which may provide information on the evolution from late-stage protoplanetary disks to debris disks. We used near-infrared interferometric observations obtained with the Very Large Telescope Interferometer/PIONIER to constrain the dust distribution at three epochs spanning six years. We also studied the photometric variability of HD 169142 using our optical–infrared observations and archival data. Our results indicate that a dust ring at ∼0.3 au formed some time between 2013 and 2018, and then faded (but did not completely disappear) by 2019. The short-term variability resembles that observed in extreme debris disks, and is likely related to short-lived dust of secondary origin, though variable shadowing from the inner ring could be an alternative interpretation. If confirmed, this is the first direct detection of secondary dust production inside a protoplanetary disk.

Results of Many-year Photometry of the Herbig Ae Star AB Aur in the Near Infrared

The results of many-year infrared observations of the Herbig AeBe star AB Aur at 1-5 μm (JHKLM bands) are presented. The duration of the photometric series, together with observations published earlier, is about 18 years. The observations demonstrate that, in contrast to the optical, the star is quite active in the studied infrared range. The variability amplitude increases with wavelength, reaching ΔM = 0.72m. Modeling shows that both the amount of IR radiation from the inner part of the disk and its temperature increase when the star becomes brighter. A periodogram analysis demonstrates that variations of the IR flux from AB Aur display significant evidence for periodic changes, whose stability is uncertain. This behavior is most probably associated with transient quasi-oscillations related to instability processes in the inner disk. The estimated correlation timescale, τ = 130 ± 40d, can be considered as an approximate characteristic of the duration of such processes. The analysis results provide no certain grounds to believe that the inner disk contains any massive objects in permanent orbits, such as protoplanets. The existing trend in the variations of the IR flux, most clearly expressed in the KLM bands, provides evidence for the presence of large-scale perturbations in the disk. Conditions that could bring about a cyclic character in the accretion of gas from the circumstellar disk onto the young star are briefly discussed.

Evidence of a discontinuous disk structure around the Herbig Ae star HD 139614 (Corrigendum)

Evidence of a discontinuous disk structure around the Herbig Ae star HD 139614 <i>(Corrigendum)</i>

Conditions for Formation of the Helium HeI 10830 Å Line in The Disk and Magnetospheric Winds of Young Herbig Ae Stars

The conditions for formation of helium lines in the disk and magnetospheric winds of Herbig Ae stars are studied. The program package CLOUDY is used to solve this problem. It is shown that the optical thickness of the gas in the HeI 10830 A line needed to explain the observed P Cyg profiles is reached in the disk or magnetospheric winds of Herbig Ae stars for Te ≥ 10000 K. Here the x-ray emission produced at the surface and in the vicinity of a young star is the main ionization source for helium atoms.

Probing planet formation and disk substructures in the inner disk of Herbig Ae stars with CO rovibrational emission

Context. CO rovibrational lines are efficient probes of warm molecular gas and can give unique insights into the inner 10 AU of proto-planetary disks, effectively complementing ALMA observations. Recent studies find a relation between the ratio of lines originating from the second and first vibrationally excited state, denoted as v2∕v1, and the Keplerian velocity or emitting radius of CO. Counterintuitively, in disks around Herbig Ae stars the vibrational excitation is low when CO lines come from close to the star, and high when lines only probe gas at large radii (more than 5 AU). The v2∕v1 ratio is also counterintuitively anti-correlated with the near-infrared (NIR) excess, which probes hot and warm dust in the inner disk. Aims. We aim to find explanations for the observed trends between CO vibrational ratio, emitting radii and NIR excess, and to identify their implications in terms of the physical and chemical structure of inner disks around Herbig stars. Methods. First, slab model explorations in local thermal equilibrium (LTE) and non-LTE are used to identify the essential parameter space regions that can produce the observed CO emission. Second, we explore a grid of thermo-chemical models using the DALI code, varying gas-to-dust ratio and inner disk radius. Line flux, line ratios, and emitting radii are extracted from the simulated lines in the same way as the observations and directly compared to the data. Results. Broad CO lines with low vibrational ratios are best explained by a warm (400–1300 K) inner disk surface with gas-to-dust ratios below 1000 (NCO &lt; 1018 cm−2); no CO is detected within or at the inner dust rim, due to dissociation at high temperatures. In contrast, explaining the narrow lines with high vibrational ratios requires an inner cavity of a least 5 AU in both dust and gas, followed by a cool (100–300 K) molecular gas reservoir with gas-to-dust ratios greater than 10 000 (NCO &gt; 1018 cm−2) at the cavity wall. In all cases, the CO gas must be close to thermalization with the dust (Tgas ~ Tdust). Conclusions. The high gas-to-dust ratios needed to explain high v2∕v1 in narrow CO lines for a subset of group I disks can be naturally interpreted as due to the dust traps that are proposed to explain millimeter dust cavities. The dust trap and the low gas surface density inside the cavity are consistent with the presence of one or more massive planets. The difference between group I disks with low and high NIR excess can be explained by gap opening mechanisms that do or do not create an efficient dust trap, respectively. The broad lines seen in most group II objects indicate a very flat disk in addition to inner disk substructures within 10 AU that can be related to the substructures recently observed with ALMA. We provide simulated ELT-METIS images to directly test these scenarios in the future.

Features of the Wind of the Unique Herbig Ae Star HD 190073

Results of our spectral monitoring of the Herbig Ae star HD190073 during 2009-2017 at the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory are presented. Over this time, 116 spectra were obtained in the region of the Hα line and 61 in the region of the HeI and NaI D lines. It was found that the parameters of the circumstellar lines are variable and at least three separate components of the variability can be identified: (a) night to night, (b) interseasonal (τ tens of days), (c) slow (τ years). We assume that the interseasonal variability may be related to modulation of the rotational profiles of the star with a period of about 40 days, while the slow variations may be influenced by a hypothetical binarity of the object, direct signs of which have not yet been been discovered. We confirm that the complicated multicomponent structure of the blue absorption components of the Ca II doublet absorption lines, which have already been discussed for several decades, is also observed in the Hα and NaI D2 lines. These features of these lines are presumably related to the existence of a magnetic field with a complicated configuration in this object. The characteristics of this configuration remain unknown and should be the subject of future investigations. We also assume that the sudden changes in the parameters of the lines after JD2455700 may be related to a transformation in the magnetic field of HD190073 predicted previously in the literature. We believe that further studies of this object should include: (a) repeated direct spectropolarimetric measurements of the magnetic field, (b) a search for cyclicity in measurements of the parameters of the profiles of its lines on a time scale of tens of days (owing to rotational modulation) to several years (traces of the presence of a second component), and (c) a study of the variability of other circumstellar lines formed in the wind (e.g., the FeII (42) triplet line).