UX Tau Research Articles

Running with the bulls

Context. Stars and planets form in regions of enhanced stellar density, subjecting protoplanetary discs to gravitational perturbations from neighbouring stars. Observations in the Taurus star-forming region have uncovered evidence of at least three recent, star-disc encounters that have truncated discs (HV/DO Tau, RW Aurigae, and UX Tau), raising questions about the frequency of such events. Aims. We aim to assess the probability of observing truncating star-disc encounters in Taurus. Methods. We generated a physically motivated dynamical model including binaries and a spatial-kinematic substructure to follow the historical dynamical evolution of the Taurus star-forming region. We used this model to track star-disc encounters and the resulting outer disc truncation over the lifetime of Taurus. Results. A quarter of discs are truncated below 30 au by dynamical encounters, but this truncation mostly occurs in binaries over the course of a few orbital periods, on a timescale ≲0.1 Myr. Nonetheless, some truncating encounters still occur up to the present age of Taurus. Strongly truncating encounters (ejecting ≳10 percent of the disc mass) occur at a rate ∼10 Myr−1, sufficient to explain the encounter between HV and DO Tau ∼0.1 Myr ago. If encounters that eject only ∼1 percent of the disc mass are responsible for RW Aurigae and UX Tau, then they are also expected with encounter rate Γenc ∼ 100–200 Myr−1. However, the observed sample of recent encounters is probably incomplete, since these examples occurred in systems that are not consistent with a random drawing from the mass function. One more observed example would statistically imply additional physics, such as replenishment of the outer disc material. Conclusions. The marginal consistency of the frequency of observed recent star-disc encounters with theoretical expectations underlines the value of future large surveys searching for external structures associated with recent encounters. The outcome of such a survey offers a highly constraining, novel probe of protoplanetary disc physics.

Evidence for Dust Depletion in a Misaligned Protoplanetary Disk with JWST

Here we report the detection of dust depletion in a misaligned inner disk around UX Tau A using JWST MIRI spectra. Mid-infrared (MIR) continuum “seesaw” variability was detected in this disk by Spitzer and attributed to variable shadows cast on the outer disk by the inner disk. The JWST MIRI spectrum of UX Tau A also shows seesaw variability but with a significant decrease of emission shortward of 10 μm to nearly photospheric levels. We argue that UX Tau A’s MIR continuum variability is due to depletion of dust in a misaligned inner disk. We speculate that this dust depletion occurs because the inner disk is misaligned from the outer disk, which can disrupt the replenishment of the inner disk from the outer disk. Using contemporaneous measurements of the mass accretion rate of UX Tau A and estimating the amount of dust necessary to produce the MIR excess in the Spitzer observations, we estimate a minimum dust depletion timescale of ∼0.1 yr. These observations show that we can indirectly detect the signatures of misaligned inner disks through MIR continuum variability and that in some cases the inner disk may be significantly depleted of dust and become optically thin.

Kinematics and brightness temperatures of transition discs

Context. In recent years, high-angular-resolution observations of the dust and gas content in circumstellar discs have revealed a variety of morphologies, naturally triggering the question of whether these substructures are driven by forming planets interacting with their environment or other mechanisms. While it remains difficult to directly image embedded planets, one of the most promising methods to distinguish disc-shaping mechanisms is to study the kinematics of the gas disc. Characterising deviations from Keplerian rotation can then be used to probe underlying perturbations such as planet-disc interactions. Creating spiral structures, the latter can also be traced in the brightness temperature. Aims. In this paper, we aim to analyse the gas brightness temperatures and kinematics of a sample of 36 transition discs observed with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) to resolve and characterise possible substructures that may be tracing embedded companions. Methods. For our analysis, we use archival Band 6 and Band 7 ALMA observations of different CO isotopologues (12CO, 13CO, and C18O) and fit different Keplerian disc models (thin and thick disc geometry) to the retrieved velocity field of each disc. Results. After the subtraction of an azimuthally averaged brightness temperature profile and Keplerian rotation model from the peak brightness temperature and velocity maps, we find significant substructures in eight sources of our sample (CQ Tau, GG Tau, HD 100453, HD 142527, HD 169142, HP Cha, TW Hya, and UX Tau A) in both the brightness temperature and velocity residuals. Other sources show tentative features, while about half of our sample does not show any substructures in the temperature and kinematics that may be indicative of planet-disc interactions. Conclusions. For the first time, we compare the substructures from our analysis with various other indicators for the presence of planets. About 20% of discs show strong features such as arcs or spirals, possibly associated with the presence of planets, while the majority of discs do not present as clear planet-driven signatures. Almost all discs that exhibit spirals in near-infrared scattered light show at least tentative features in the CO data. The present data are able to reveal only very massive bodies and a lack of features may suggest that, if there are planets at all, they are of lower mass (<1–3 MJ) or may be located closer to the star within deep cavities. Deeper and higher resolution observations and modelling efforts are needed to confirm such scenarios.

Close encounters: How stellar flybys shape planet-forming discs

We review the role of stellar flybys and encounters in shaping planet-forming discs around young stars, based on the published literature on this topic in the last 30 years. Since most stars $$\le ~2$$ Myr old harbour protoplanetary discs, tidal perturbations affect planet formation. First, we examine the probability of experiencing flybys or encounters: More than 50% of stars with planet-forming discs in a typical star-forming environment should experience a close stellar encounter or flyby within 1000 au. Second, we detail the dynamical effects of flybys on planet-forming discs. Prograde, parabolic, disc-penetrating flybys are the most destructive. Grazing and penetrating flybys in particular lead to the capture of disc material by the secondary to form a highly misaligned circumsecondary disc with respect to the disc around the primary. One or both discs may undergo extreme accretion and outburst events, similar to the ones observed in FU Orionis-type stars. Warps and broken discs are distinct signatures of retrograde flybys. Third, we review some recently observed stellar systems with discs where a stellar flyby or an encounter is suspected—including UX Tau, RW Aur, AS 205, Z CMa, and FU Ori. Finally, we discuss the implications of stellar flybys for planet formation and exoplanet demographics, including possible imprints of a flyby in the Solar System in the orbits of trans-Neptunian objects and the Sun’s obliquity.

Ongoing flyby in the young multiple system UX Tauri

We present observations of the young multiple system UX Tauri to look for circumstellar disks and for signs of dynamical interactions. We obtained SPHERE/IRDIS deep differential polarization images in the J and H bands. We also used ALMA archival CO data. Large extended spirals are well detected in scattered light coming out of the disk of UX Tau A. The southern spiral forms a bridge between UX Tau A and C. These spirals, including the bridge connecting the two stars, all have a CO (3–2) counterpart seen by ALMA. The disk of UX Tau C is detected in scattered light. It is much smaller than the disk of UX Tau A and has a major axis along a different position angle, suggesting a misalignment. We performed PHANTOM SPH hydrodynamical models to interpret the data. The scattered light spirals, CO emission spirals and velocity patterns of the rotating disks, and the compactness of the disk of UX Tau C all point to a scenario in which UX Tau A has been perturbed very recently (∼1000 years) by the close passage of UX Tau C.

3.3 CM JVLA OBSERVATIONS OF TRANSITIONAL DISKS: SEARCHING FOR CENTIMETER PEBBLES

ABSTRACT We present sensitive (rms-noises ∼4–25 μJy) and high angular resolution (∼1″–2″) 8.9 GHz (3.3 cm) Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array radio continuum observations of 10 presumed transitional disks associated with young low-mass stars. We report the detection of radio continuum emission in 5 out of the 10 objects (RXJ1615, UX Tau A, LkCa15, RXJ1633, and SR 24s). In the case of LkCa15, the centimeter emission is extended, and has a similar morphology to that of the transitional disk observed at millimeter wavelengths with an inner depression. For these five detections, we construct the spectral energy distributions from the centimeter to submillimeter wavelengths, and find that they can be well fitted with a single (RXJ1633 and UX Tau A) or a two-component power law (LkCa15, RXJ1615, and SR 24s). For the cases where a single power law fits the data well, the centimeter emission is likely produced by optically thin dust with large grains (i.e., centimeter-size pebbles) present in the transitional disks. For the cases where a double power law fits the data, the centimeter emission might be produced by the combination of photoevaporation and a free–free jet. We conclude that RXJ1633 and UX Tau A are excellent examples of transitional disks where the structure of the emission from centimeter/millimeter pebbles can be studied. In the other cases, some other physical emitting mechanisms are also important in the centimeter regime.

High-Resolution Near-Infrared Polarimetry of a Circumstellar Disk around UX Tau A

Abstract We present $ H$-band polarimetric imagery of UX Tau A taken with HiCIAO/AO188 on the Subaru Telescope. UX Tau A has been classified as a pre-transitional disk object, with a gap structure separating its inner and outer disks. Our imagery taken with the 0$ \rlap{\hskip1pt .}''$ 15 (21 AU) radius coronagraphic mask has revealed a strongly polarized circumstellar disk surrounding UX Tau A, which extends to 120 AU, at a spatial resolution of 0$ \rlap{\hskip1pt .}''$ 1 (14 AU). It is inclined by 46$ ^{\circ}$$ \pm$ 2$ ^{\circ}$ , since the west side is nearest. Although SED modeling and sub-millimeter imagery have suggested the presence of a gap in the disk, with the inner edge of the outer disk estimated to be located at 25–30 AU, we detect no evidence of a gap at the limit of our inner working angle (23 AU) at the near-infrared wavelength. We attribute the observed strong polarization (up to 66%) to light scattering by dust grains in the disk. However, neither polarization models of the circumstellar disk based on Rayleigh-scattering nor Mie-scattering approximations were consistent with the observed azimuthal profile of the polarization degrees of the disk. Instead, a geometric optics model of the disk with nonspherical grains with radii of 30 $ \mu$ m is consistent with the observed profile. We suggest that the dust grains have experienced frequent collisional coagulations, and have grown in the circumstellar disk of UX Tau A.

A HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE SURVEY OF H2 EMISSION IN THE CIRCUMSTELLAR ENVIRONMENTS OF YOUNG STARS*

ABSTRACT The formation timescale and final architecture of exoplanetary systems are closely related to the properties of the molecular disks from which they form. Observations of the spatial distribution and lifetime of the molecular gas at planet-forming radii (a < 10 AU) are important for understanding the formation and evolution of exoplanetary systems. Toward this end, we present the largest spectrally resolved survey of H2 emission around low-mass pre-main-sequence stars compiled to date. We use a combination of new and archival far-ultraviolet spectra from the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph and Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph instruments on the Hubble Space Telescope to sample 34 T Tauri stars (27 actively accreting Classical T Tauri Stars and 7 non-accreting Weak-lined T Tauri Stars) with ages ranging from ∼1 to 10 Myr. We observe fluorescent H2 emission, excited by Lyα photons, in 100% of the accreting sources, including all of the transitional disks in our sample (CS Cha, DM Tau, GM Aur, UX Tau A, LkCa 15, HD 135344B, and TW Hya). The spatial distribution of the emitting gas is inferred from spectrally resolved H2 line profiles. Some of the emitting gas is produced in outflowing material, but the majority of H2 emission appears to originate in a rotating disk. For the disk-dominated targets, the H2 emission originates predominately at a ≲ 3 AU. The emission line widths and inner molecular radii are found to be roughly consistent with those measured from mid-IR CO spectra.

Modeling Fluid Flow Effects in Close Binary and Protoplanetary Systems

AbstractAccretion disks around some white dwarfs in Cataclysmic Variables are thought to tilt around the line of nodes by the lift force acting at the disk's center of pressure. We investigate whether protoplanetary disks can also experience disk tilt. We find that lift may be possible by an asymmetric, net uni-directional, in-falling gas/dust stream overflowing a bluff body (e.g., Class I sources) or inner annuli of young Class II sources if gas/dust is still in-falling and the aspect ratio and disk surface area are large enough. However, inner disks of Class II sources LkCa 15, UX Tau A, and Rox 44 are not large enough, and therefore disk tilt is not likely.

UNVEILING THE STRUCTURE OF PRE-TRANSITIONAL DISKS

In the past few years, several disks with inner holes that are empty of small dust grains have been detected and are known as transitional disks. Recently, Spitzer has identified a new class of "pre-transitional disks" with gaps; these objects have an optically thick inner disk separated from an optically thick outer disk by an optically thin disk gap. A near-infrared spectrum provided the first confirmation of a gap in the pre-transitional disk of LkCa 15 by verifying that the near-infrared excess emission in this object was due to an optically thick inner disk. Here we investigate the difference between the nature of the inner regions of transitional and pre-transitional disks using the same veiling-based technique to extract the near-infrared excess emission above the stellar photosphere. We show that the near-infrared excess emission of the previously identified pre-transitional disks of LkCa 15 and UX Tau A in Taurus as well as the newly identified pre-transitional disk of ROX 44 in Ophiuchus can be fit with an inner disk wall located at the dust destruction radius. We also model the broad-band SEDs of these objects, taking into account the effect of shadowing by the inner disk on the outer disk, considering the finite size of the star. The near-infrared excess continua of these three pre-transitional disks, which can be explained by optically thick inner disks, are significantly different from that of the transitional disks of GM Aur, whose near-infrared excess continuum can be reproduced by emission from sub-micron-sized optically thin dust, and DM Tau, whose near-infrared spectrum is consistent with a disk hole that is relatively free of small dust. The structure of pre-transitional disks may be a sign of young planets forming in these disks and future studies of pre-transitional disks will provide constraints to aid in theoretical modeling of planet formation.

RULING OUT STELLAR COMPANIONS AND RESOLVING THE INNERMOST REGIONS OF TRANSITIONAL DISKS WITH THE KECK INTERFEROMETER

With the Keck Interferometer, we have studied at 2 um the innermost regions of several nearby, young, dust depleted "transitional" disks. Our observations target five of the six clearest cases of transitional disks in the Taurus/Auriga star-forming region (DM Tau, GM Aur, LkCa 15, UX Tau A, and RY Tau) to explore the possibility that the depletion of optically thick dust from the inner disks is caused by stellar companions rather than the more typical planet-formation hypothesis. At the 99.7% confidence level, the observed visibilities exclude binaries with flux ratios of at least 0.05 and separations ranging from 2.5 to 30 mas (0.35 - 4 AU) over >= 94% of the area covered by our measurements. All targets but DM Tau show near-infrared excess in their SED higher than our companion flux ratio detection limits. While a companion has previously been detected in the candidate transitional disk system CoKu Tau/4, we can exclude similar mass companions as the typical origin for the clearing of inner dust in transitional disks and of the near-infrared excess emission. Unlike CoKu Tau/4, all our targets show some evidence of accretion. We find that all but one of the targets are clearly spatially resolved, and UX Tau A is marginally resolved. Our data is consistent with hot material on small scales (0.1 AU) inside of and separated from the cooler outer disk, consistent with the recent SED modeling. These observations support the notion that some transitional disks have radial gaps in their optically thick material, which could be an indication for planet formation in the habitable zone (~ a few AU) of a protoplanetary disk.

On the Diversity of the Taurus Transitional Disks: UX Tauri A and LkCa 15

The recently recognized class of transitional disk systems consists of young stars with optically thick outer disks but inner disks which are mostly devoid of small dust grains. Here we introduce a further class of pre-transitional disks with significant near-infrared excesses which indicate the presence of an optically thick inner disk separated from an optically thick outer disk; thus, the spectral energy distributions of pre-transitional disks suggest the incipient development of disk gaps rather than inner holes. In UX Tau A, our analysis of the Spitzer IRS spectrum finds that the near-infrared excess is produced by an inner optically thick disk and that a gap of ~56 AU is present. The Spitzer IRS spectrum of LkCa 15 is suggestive of a gap of ~46 AU, confirming previous millimeter imaging. In addition, UX Tau A contains crystalline silicates in its disk at radii 56 AU which poses a challenge to our understanding of the production of this crystalline material. In contrast, LkCa 15's silicates are amorphous and pristine. UX Tau A and LkCa 15 increase our knowledge of the diversity of dust clearing in low-mass star formation.

Lithium lines in the spectra of M dwarfs: UX Tau C

The results of numerical modeling of lithium lines in the spectra of M dwarfs are discussed. The behavior of the lithium lines relative to the local pseudocontinuum formed by molecular bands is analyzed as a function of model atmosphere parameters: effective temperature Teff, gravity logg, and metallicity μ The molecular opacity was computed using the just overlapping line approximation (JOLA) and “line-by-line” methods. The pseudo-equivalent widths of lithium lines depend appreciably on metallicity μ and weakly on T{nteff}. The lithium abundance in the atmosphere of UX Tau C is redetermined. Previous studies underestimated the lithium abundance in this star as a result of the use of insufficiently accurate molecular-line lists. The new lithium abundance log N (Li)=3.2±0.3was derived by comparing the observed profiles of the 670.8 nm resonance doublet lines with profiles calculated using the new TiO line list of Plez.1 The new abundance agrees with the atmospheric lithium abundances of the other two components in the stellar system, providing further evidence that the three stars in the UX Tau system have the same age. A comparison of the observed spectra of UX Tau C near the lithium resonance doublet (665–680 nm) with spectra computed using JOLA and line-by-line methods suggests that the list of Plez is the best currently available.

Photometric and spectroscopic monitoring of AA Tau, DN Tau, UX Tau A, T Tau, RY Tau, LK CA 4, and LK CA 7

We report the results of a UBVRI photometric monitoring campaign for three classical T Tauri stars (AA Tau, DN Tau, and UX Tau A) and two weak emission line T Tauri stars (Lk Ca 4 and Lk Ca 7). Observations were obtained at three sites during a core observing period spanning UT 1985 October 14 through UT 1985 December 25, with additional observations continuing until UT 1986 April 6. Concurrent spectrophotometric observations were obtained for all main program stars except Lk Ca 7 and additionally for T Tau, RW Aur, and RY Tau. Periodic photometric variability, assumed to be the stars' rotation periods, were found for AA Tau, DN Tau, Lk Ca 4, and Lk Ca 7, respectively, as 8.2, 6.3, 3.4, and 5.7 days. Several U-filter flares were observed for Lk Ca 4 and Lk Ca 7, which are strongly concentrated toward phases of minimum light. Correlations are found between H-alpha line strengths and V magnitudes for AA Tau and RY Tau. An analysis of absolute color variations of classical T Tauri stars confirms that hot spots are the predominant cause of these stars' variability. Our overall results are consistent with earlier findings that long-lived cool spots are responsible for most of the variability found for weak-emission T Tauri stars, while temporal hot spots are primarily responsible for the observed variability found in classical T Tauri stars.