Vega-like Stars Research Articles

Magnetic fields driven by tidal mixing in radiative stars

Stellar magnetism plays an important role in stellar evolution theory. Approximatively 10% of observed main sequence (MS) and pre-main-sequence (PMS) radiative stars exhibit surface magnetic fields above the detection limit, raising the question of their origin. These stars host outer radiative envelopes, which are stably stratified. Therefore, they are assumed to be motionless in standard models of stellar structure and evolution. We focus on rapidly rotating, radiative stars which may be prone to the tidal instability, due to an orbital companion. Using direct numerical simulations in a sphere, we study the interplay between a stable stratification and the tidal instability, and assess its dynamo capability. We show that the tidal instability is triggered regardless of the strength of the stratification (Brunt-V{\"a}is{\"a}l{\"a} frequency). Furthermore, the tidal instability can lead to both mixing and self-induced magnetic fields in stably stratified layers (provided that the Brunt-V{\"a}is{\"a}l{\"a} frequency does not exceed the stellar spin rate in the simulations too much). The application to stars suggests that the resulting magnetic fields could be observable at the stellar surfaces. Indeed, we expect magnetic field strengths up to several Gauss.Consequently, tidally driven dynamos should be considered as a (complementary) dynamo mechanism, possibly operating in radiative MS and PMS stars hosting orbital companions. In particular, tidally driven dynamos may explain the observed magnetism of tidally deformed and rapidly rotating Vega-like stars.

Mid-IR observations of circumstellar disks

We present new mid-infrared spectra for a sample of 15 targets (1 FU Orionis object, 4 Herbig Ae stars, 5 T Tauri stars and 5 Vega type stars), obtained with the TIMMI2 camera at La Silla Observatory (ESO). Three targets are members of the beta Pic moving group (HD 155555, HD 181296 and HD 319139). PAH bands are observed towards the T Tauri star HD 34700 and the Herbig Ae star PDS 144 N. For HD 34700, the band profiles indicate processed PAHs. The spectrum of the Vega-type object eta Corvi (HD 109085), for which a resolved disk at sub-mm wavelengths is known, is entirely stellar between 8--13 micron. Similarly, no indication for circumstellar matter at mid-infrared wavelengths is found towards the Vega-like stars HD 3003, HD 80951, HD 181296 and, surprisingly, the T Tauri system HD 155555. The silicate emission features of the remaining eight sources are modelled with a mixture of silicates of different grain sizes and composition. Unprocessed dust dominates FU Ori, HD 143006 and CD-43 344. Large amorphous grains are the main dust component around HD 190073, HD 319139, KK Oph and PDS 144 S. Both small grains and crystalline dust is found for the Vega-type HD 123356, with a dominance of small amorphous grains. We show that the infrared emission of the binary HD 123356 is dominated by its late-type secondary, but optical spectroscopy is still required to confirm the age of the system and the spectral class of the companion. For most targets this is their first mid-infrared spectroscopic observation. We investigate trends between stellar, disk and silicate properties and confirm correlations of previous studies. Several objects present an exciting potential for follow-up high-resolution disk studies.

SPECKLE SUPPRESSION THROUGH DUAL IMAGING POLARIMETRY, AND A GROUND-BASED IMAGE OF THE HR 4796A CIRCUMSTELLAR DISK

We demonstrate the versatility of a dual imaging polarimeter working in tandem with a Lyot coronagraph and adaptive optics to suppress the highly static speckle noise pattern—the greatest hindrance to ground-based direct imaging of planets and disks around nearby stars. Using a double difference technique with the polarimetric data, we quantify the level of speckle suppression, and hence improved sensitivity, by placing an ensemble of artificial faint companions into real data, with given total brightness and polarization. For highly polarized sources within 0. 5, we show that we achieve 3 to 4 mag greater sensitivity through polarimetric speckle suppression than simply using a coronagraph coupled to a high-order adaptive optics system. Using such a polarimeter with a classical Lyot coronagraph at the 3.63 m Advanced Electro-Optical System telescope, we have obtained a 6.5! detection in the H band of the 76 AU diameter circumstellar debris disk around the star HR 4796A. Our data represent the first definitive ground-based near-IR polarimetric image of the HR 4796A debris disk and clearly show the two outer ansae of the disk, evident in Hubble Space Telescope NICMOS/STIS imaging. Comparing our peak linearly polarized flux with the total intensity in the lobes as observed by NICMOS, we derive a lower limit to the fractional linear polarization of >29% caused by dust grains in the disk. In addition, we fit simple morphological models of optically thin disks to our data allowing us to constrain the dust disk scale height (2.5 +5.0 # 1.3 AU) and scattering asymmetry parameter (g =$ cos %= 0.20 +.07 # .10 ). These values are consistent with several lines of evidence suggesting that the HR 4796A disk is dominated by a micron-sized dust population, and are indeed typical of disks in transition between those surrounding the Herbig Ae stars to those associated with Vega-like stars.

EF Chamaeleontis: Warm Dust Orbiting a Nearby 10 Myr Old Star

Most Vega-like stars have far-infrared excess (60 μm or longward in IRAS, ISO, or Spitzer MIPS bands) and contain cold dust (150 K) analogous to the Sun's Kuiper Belt region. However, dust in a region more akin to our asteroid belt and thus relevant to the terrestrial planet building process is warm and produces excess emission in mid-infrared wavelengths. By cross-correlating Hipparcos dwarfs with the MSX catalog, we found that EF Cha, a member of the recently identified, ~10 Myr old, Cha-Near moving group, possesses prominent mid-infrared excess. N-band spectroscopy reveals a strong emission feature characterized by a mixture of small, warm, amorphous, and possibly crystalline silicate grains. Survival time of warm dust grains around this A9 star is 105 yr, much less than the age of the star. Thus, grains in this extrasolar terrestrial planetary zone must be of a and not a remnant of primordial dust and are suggestive of substantial planet formation activity. Such second generation warm excess occurs around ~13% of the early-type stars in nearby young stellar associations.

First Two‐Micron Imaging Polarimetry of β Pictoris

High-resolution K-band imaging polarimetry of the β Pic dust disk has been conducted with adaptive optics and a coronagraph using the Subaru 8.2 m telescope. Polarization of ~10% is detected out to r ~ 120 AU with a centrosymmetric vector pattern around the central star, confirming that the disk is seen as an infrared reflection nebula. We have modeled our near-infrared and previous optical polarization results in terms of dust scattering in the disk and have found that both the degrees of polarization and the radial intensity profiles are well reproduced. We argue that the observed characteristics of the disk dust are consistent with the presence of ice-filled fluffy aggregates consisting of submicron grains in the β Pic system. There is a gap around 100 AU in both the intensity and polarization profiles, which suggests a paucity of planetesimals in this region. The radial intensity profile also shows ripple-like structures, which are indicative of the presence of multiple planetesimal belts, as in the case of the M-type Vega-like star AU Mic.

Accurate magnetic field measurements of Vega-like stars and Herbig Ae/Be stars

We have obtained accurate circular spectropolarimetric observations for a sample of Vega-like and Herbig Ae/Be stars with FORS1 at the VLT in an attempt to detect their magnetic fields. No magnetic field could be diagnosed in any Vega-like star. The most accurate determination of a magnetic field, at 2.6 sigma level, has been performed for the Vega-like star iota Cen for which we have measured <B_z> = -77+-30 G. In the prototype of Vega-like stars, the star beta Pictoris, which shows conspicuous signs of chromospheric activity, a longitudinal magnetic field is measured only at ~1.5 sigma level. We diagnose for the first time a longitudinal magnetic field at a level larger than 3 sigma for the two Herbig Ae stars HD31648 and HD144432 and we confirm the previous detection of a magnetic field in a third Herbig Ae star, HD139614. Finally, we discuss the discovery of distinctive Zeeman features in the unusual Herbig Ae star HD190073 where the Ca II doublet displays several components in both H and K lines. From the measurement of circular polarization in all Balmer lines from H_beta to H_8 we obtain <B_z> = +26+-34 G. However, using for the measurement of circular polarization only the Ca II H and K lines, we are able to diagnose a longitudinal magnetic field at 2.8 sigma level, <B_z> = +84+-30 G.

Numerical Modeling of Dusty Debris Disks

Infrared and submillimeter observations of nearby Vega-like stars have revealed a number of clumpy, asymmetric dust debris disks. Previous studies using semianalytical and numerical methods have suggested planetary companions of various mass as the likely cause of most examples of disk asymmetry. In this paper, we modify an N-body symplectic gravitational integrator to include radiation terms and conduct medium-resolution parameter searches to identify likely planetary candidates in observed Vega-like systems. We also present high-resolution models of Vega and Eridani, comparing our results to those of previous authors, and a new model for Fomalhaut.

Discovery of a Candidate Protoplanetary Disk around the Embedded Source IRc9 in Orion

We report the detection of spatially-extended mid-infrared emission around the luminous embedded star IRc9 in OMC-1, as seen in 8.8, 11.7, and 18.3 micron images obtained with T-ReCS on Gemini South. The extended emission is asymmetric, and the morphology is reminiscent of warm dust disks around other young stars. The putative disk has a radius of roughly 1.5 arcsec (700 AU), and a likely dust mass of almost 10 Earth masses. The infrared spectral energy distribution of IRc9 indicates a total luminosity of about 100 Lsun, implying that it shall become an early A-type star when it reaches the main sequence. Thus, the candidate disk around IRc9 may be a young analog of the planetary debris disks around Vega-like stars and the disks of Herbig Ae stars, and may provide a laboratory in which to study the earliest phases of planet formation. A disk around IRc9 may also add weight to the hypothesis that an enhanced T Tauri-like wind from this star has influenced the molecular outflow from the OMC-1 core.

The ASTRO-F mission: Large area infrared survey

ASTRO-F is the first Japanese satellite mission dedicated for large area surveys in the infrared. The 69 cm aperture telescope and scientific instruments are cooled to 6 K by liquid Helium and mechanical coolers. During the expected mission life of more than 500 days, ASTRO-F will make the most advanced all-sky survey in the mid- to far-infrared since the Infrared Astronomical Satellite. The survey will be made in six wavebands and will include the first all sky survey at >100–160 μm. Deep imaging and spectroscopic surveys with pointed observations will also be carried out in 13 wavelength bands from 2 to 160 μm. ASTRO-F should detect more than a half million galaxies tracing the large-scale structure of the Universe out to redshifts of unity, detecting rare, exotic extraordinarily luminous objects at high redshift, numerous brown dwarfs, Vega-like stars, protostars, and will reveal the large-scale structure of nearby galactic star forming regions. ASTRO-F is a perfect complement to Spitzer Space Telescope in respect of its wide sky and wavelength coverage. Approximately 30% of pointed observations will be allocated to an open-time opportunity. Updated pre-flight sensitivities as well as the observation plan including the large-area surveys are described.

Kinematics of Vega-like stars: Lifetimes and temporal evolution of circumstellar dust disks

We have used the velocity dispersion as an age indicator to constrain the ages of a large sample of main sequence Vega-like stars in order to study the lifetimes and temporal evolution of the dust disks around them. We use Hipparcos mea- surements to compute stellar velocities in the sky plane. The velocity dispersion of Vega-like stars is found to be systematically smaller than that of the normal main sequence field stars for all spectral types, suggesting that the main sequence dusty systems, on average, are younger than normal field stars. The debris disks seem to survive longer around late type stars as compared to early type stars. Further, we find a strong correlation between fractional dust luminosity ( fd ≡ Ldust/L� ) and velocity dispersion of stars with dust disks. Fractional dust luminosity is found to drop off steadily with increasing stellar age from early pre-main sequence phase to late main sequence phase.

VLTI near-IR interferometric observations of Vega-like stars

We report in this paper the direct interferometric measurement of the angular diameter of five nearby Vega-like stars: α PsA, β Leo, β Pic, � Eri and τ Cet. The near-infrared (K and H bands) observations were conducted at the VLTI during the commissioning period with the VINCI instrument and three different baselines ranging from 66 m to 140 m. The five stellar photospheres are resolved and we derive their angular diameters with a 1 to 2% accuracy, except for β Pic (14%). We discuss the detectability and the influence of a possible small amount of warm circumstellar dust on our measurements. In addition, we have used the stellar evolution code CESAM (Morel 1997) to compare the computed fundamental parameters to the observed values (linear diameter, luminosity, temperature and chemical abundance). As a result of the simulation, the age of the stars is inferred and found to be in good agreement with previous estimates from various other methods.

Does the 3.3 Micron Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Emission Feature Require Ultraviolet Excitation?

Unidentified infrared bands (UIBs) have been observed in virtually every dusty astrophysical environment investigated. The UIB carrier must be abundant and ubiquitous. Strong evidence points to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as likely candidates, but the identification is not complete. Additional diagnostics are needed to further constrain the UIB carrier, such as probing excitation sources ranging from UV-strong to UV-weak to determine the band gap of the UIB carrier. Observations and models suggest that the UIBs can be found in sources with weak UV fields. To that end, we present new results of observing the 3.3 μm spectral region in six stars embedded in reflection nebulae and in six Vega-like stars. These objects have effective temperatures ranging from 3500 to 12,000 K. Their environments include dust that should be relatively unprocessed (reflection nebulae) and dust that has most likely undergone significant processing (Vega-like) by the embedded illumination source. Together with data from the literature, we have a sample of 27 sight lines. Our analysis suggests that neither the strength of the UV field impinging on the dust nor the effective temperature of the star is the determining factor in whether the 3.3 μm UIB emission is present in an object. We found three detections of the 3.3 μm emission band, one in a Vega-type object, one in a Herbig Ae/Be object, and one in a reflection nebula, and all with disks. The role of disk geometry is likely to be important in revealing or obscuring the photodissociation regions from which the UIB emission arises.

Crystalline Silicate Feature of the Vega-like Star HD 145263

We have observed the 8-13 μm spectrum (R ~ 250) of the Vega-like star candidate HD 145263 using Subaru/COMICS. The spectrum of HD 145263 shows the broad trapezoidal silicate feature with the shoulders at 9.3 and 11.44 μm, indicating the presence of crystalline silicate grains. This detection implies that crystalline silicate may also be commonly present around Vega-like stars. The 11.44 μm feature is slightly shifted to a longer wavelength compared to the usual 11.2-3 μm crystalline forsterite feature detected toward Herbig Ae/Be stars and T Tauri stars. Although the peak shift due to the effects of the grain size cannot be ruled out, we suggest that Fe-bearing crystalline olivine explains the observed peak wavelength fairly well. Fe-bearing silicates are commonly found in meteorites and most interplanetary dust particles, which originate from planetesimal-like asteroids. According to studies of meteorites, Fe-bearing silicate must have been formed in asteroidal planetesimals, supporting the scenario that dust grains around Vega-like stars are of planetesimal origin, if the observed 11.44 μm peak is due to Fe-bearing silicates.

Near-IR Observations of Vega-like Stars with the VLTI: β Pic, α PsA, ∊ Eri and τ Cet

We have conducted K band interferometric observations of four nearby main-sequence Vega-like stars at the VLTI with very long baselines. The very high resolution allowed us to probe the innermost region of the disks, where planets are supposed to be formed. The diameters of three bright and nearby prototypes β Pictoris, Fomalhaut (α PsA) and ∊ Eridani as well as τ Ceti have been measured with VINCI, the VLTI commissioning instrument, with a high accuracy. The derived diameters were used to constrain their age with help of the evolution code CESAM. The precision achieved with VINCI allowed us to discuss the shape of their photosphere and the possible detection of warm circumstellar material within the narrow interferometric field of view.

Gas evolution in protoplanetary disks

We present the results of a study of the evolution of the gas and dust in disks around T Tauri, Herbig Ae and Vega-like stars. We observed the two lowest rotational lines of H2 with the ISO-SWS as well as 12CO 3–2 and 13CO 3–2 with the JCMT, and CO 6–5 with the CSO. The H2 lines trace the warm (∽ 100 K) inner region whereas the CO lines probe the colder outer disks. Substantial amounts of H2 have been detected toward T Tauri and Herbig Ae stars, and, surprisingly, also around three Vega-like objects (49 Cet, HD 135344 and β Pictoris). In contrast with previous conclusions derived from CO data, a significant mass of warm gas is found to persist up to ages of several tens of Myrs, suggesting that slow formation of gas-rich giant planets is possible.

On the Flux of Extrasolar Dust in Earth’s Atmosphere

Micron-size extrasolar dust particles have been convincingly detected by satellites. Larger extrasolar meteoroids (5-35 μm) have most likely been detected by ground-based radar at Arecibo and New Zealand. We present estimates of the minimum detectable particle sizes and the collecting areas for both radar systems. We show that particles larger than ~10 μm can propagate for tens of parsecs through the interstellar medium, opening up the possibility that ground-based radar systems can detect AGB stars, young stellar objects such as T Tauri stars, and debris disks around Vega-like stars. We provide analytical and numerical estimates of the ejection velocity in the case of a debris disk interacting with a Jupiter-mass planet. We give rough estimates of the flux of large micrometeoroids from all three classes of sources. Current radar systems are unlikely to detect significant numbers of meteors from debris disks such as β Pictoris. However, we suggest improvements to radar systems that should allow for the detection of multiple examples of all three classes.

Non-emission-line young stars of intermediate mass

We present optical spectra of four intermediate-mass candidate young stellar objects that have often been classified as Herbig Ae/Be stars. Typical Herbig Ae/Be emission features are not present in the spectra of these stars. Three of them, HD 36917, HD 36982 and HD 37062, are members of the young Orion nebula cluster (ONC). This association constrains their ages to be ≲1 Myr. The lack of appreciable near-infrared excess in them suggests the absence of hot dust close to the central star. However, they do possess significant amounts of cold and extended dust as revealed by the large excess emission observed at far-infrared wavelengths. The fractional infrared luminosities (Lir/L★) and the dust masses computed from IRAS fluxes are systematically lower than those found for Herbig Ae/Be stars but higher than those for Vega-like stars. These stars may thus represent the youngest examples of the Vega phenomenon known so far. In contrast, the other star in our sample, HD 58647, is more likely to be a classical Be star, as is evident from the low Lir/L★, the scarcity of circumstellar dust, the low polarization, the presence of Hα emission and near-infrared excess, and the far-infrared spectral energy distribution consistent with free–free emission similar to other well-known classical Be stars.

M-Type Vega-like Stars

We carried out a search for M-type Vega-like stars by correlating the IRAS Faint Source Catalog with Hipparcos-selected M-type stars. Three stars with apparent IRAS 25 μm excess emission are shown instead to be non–IR-excess stars from ground-based 11.7 and 17.9 μm photometry. Two stars previously suggested to have Vega-like mid-IR excess are also shown to be nonexcess stars. These results imply that other suggested mid–IR-excess stars in the literature may also be false excess stars. Detection threshold bias is apparently responsible for these bogus IR excesses. Sixty micron excess emission from a previously known M-type Vega-like star (GJ 803) is identified again.

Discovery of Reflection Nebulosity around Five Vega‐like Stars

Coronagraphic optical observations of six Vega-like stars reveal reflection nebulosities, five of which were previously unknown. The nebulosities illuminated by HD 4881, HD 23362, HD 23680, HD 26676, and HD 49662 resemble that of the Pleiades, indicating an interstellar origin for dust grains. The reflection nebulosity around HD 123160 has a double-arm morphology, but no disk-like feature is seen as close as 2.5 arcsec from the star in K-band adaptive optics data. We demonstrate that uniform density dust clouds surrounding HD 23362, HD 23680 and HD 123160 can account for the observed 12-100 micron spectral energy distributions. For HD 4881, HD 26676, and HD 49662 an additional emission source, such as from a circumstellar disk or non-equilibrium grain heating, is required to fit the 12-25 micron data. These results indicate that in some cases, particularly for Vega-like stars located beyond the Local Bubble (>100 pc), the dust responsible for excess thermal emission may originate from the interstellar medium rather than from a planetary debris system.

SCUBA photometry of candidate Vega-like sources

New SCUBA measurements at millimetre wavelengths are presented for a sample of Vega-like stars. Six stars were detected, while sensitive upper limits were obtained for a further 11 sources. Most of the sample selected from a recent catalogue of Vega-like stars have infrared excesses similar to those of the prototype Vega-like stars α Lyr and α PsA. Their IR–submm spectral indices are steep, indicating that the submm emission from the discs is dominated by grains which are smaller than the wavelength of observation and that only small grains exist in those dusty discs. HD 98800 has an IR–submillimetre spectral index of less than two, which suggests that grains have grown to more than 0.3 mm in size. Hipparcos parallax data for HD 42137 and HD 123160 suggest that these two stars are giants rather than dwarfs, similar to the situation previously found for HD 233517. Dust masses, or upper limits, were derived for the sample; these indicate that most of the sources do not have as much dust as Herbig Ae/Be or T Tauri stars, but are likely to have dust masses comparable to those of the prototype Vega-like stars.