Young Binary System Research Articles

MAGNETOSPHERIC ACCRETION IN CLOSE PRE-MAIN-SEQUENCE BINARIES

The transfer of matter between a circumbinary disk and a young binary system remains poorly understood, obscuring the interpretation of accretion indicators. To explore the behavior of these indicators in multiple systems, we have performed the first systematic time-domain study of young binaries in the ultraviolet. We obtained far- and near-ultraviolet HST/COS spectra of the young spectroscopic binaries DQ Tau and UZ Tau E. Here we focus on the continuum from 2800 to 3200 A and on the C iv doublet (λλ1548.19, 1550.77 A) as accretion diagnostics. Each system was observed over three or four consecutive binary orbits, at phases ~0, 0.2, 0.5, and 0.7. Those observations are complemented by ground-based U-band measurements. Contrary to model predictions, we do not detect any clear correlation between accretion luminosity and phase. Further, we do not detect any correlation between C iv flux and phase. For both stars the appearance of the C iv line is similar to that of single Classical T Tauri Stars (CTTSs), despite the lack of stable long-lived circumstellar disks. However, unlike the case in single CTTSs, the narrow and broad components of the C iv lines are uncorrelated, and we argue that the narrow component is powered by processes other than accretion, such as flares in the stellar magnetospheres and/or enhanced activity in the upper atmosphere. We find that both stars contribute equally to the narrow component C iv flux in DQ Tau, but the primary dominates the narrow component C iv emission in UZ Tau E. The C iv broad component flux is correlated with other accretion indicators, suggesting an accretion origin. However, the line is blueshifted, which is inconsistent with its origin in an infall flow close to the star. It is possible that the complicated geometry of the region, as well as turbulence in the shock region, are responsible for the blueshifted line profiles.

TOWARD UNDERSTANDING THE NATURE OF THE YOUNG DETACHED BINARY SYSTEM HD 350731

The young binary system HD 350731 is a noteworthy laboratory for studying early-type binaries with similar components. We present here the analysis of differential multi-color photometric and spectroscopic observations for the double-lined detached system. Accurate absolute parameters were determined from the simultaneous solution of light and radial velocity curves for the first time. HD 350731 consists of two B8V-type components having masses and radii respectively of $M_{1}=2.91\pm0.13$ M$_{\odot}$, $M_{2}=2.80\pm0.14$ M$_{\odot}$, $R_{1}= 2.11 \pm0.05$ R$_{\odot}$ and $R_{2}=2.07\pm0.05$ R$_{\odot}$. The effective temperatures were determined based on analysis of disentangled spectra of the components and derived to be $12000\pm250$ K and $11830\pm300$ K for the primary and secondary components, respectively. The measured projected rotational velocities, 69.2$\pm$1.5 km s$^{-1}$ for primary and 70.1$\pm$1.7 km s$^{-1}$ for secondary, were found closer to the pseudo-synchronous velocities of the components. Comparison with evolutionary models suggests an age of 120$\pm$35 Myr. Kinematic analysis of the unevolved binary system HD 350731 revealed that it belongs to the young thin-disc population of the Galaxy.

CIRCUMBINARY RING, CIRCUMSTELLAR DISKS, AND ACCRETION IN THE BINARY SYSTEM UY AURIGAE

Recent exo-planetary surveys reveal that planets can orbit and survive around binary stars. This suggests that some fraction of young binary systems which possess massive circumbinary disks (CB) may be in the midst of planet formation. However, there are very few CB disks detected. We revisit one of the known CB disks, the UY Aurigae system, and probe 13CO 2-1, C18O 2-1, SO 5(6)-4(5) and 12CO 3-2 line emission and the thermal dust continuum. Our new results confirm the existence of the CB disk. In addition, the circumstellar (CS) disks are clearly resolved in dust continuum at 1.4 mm. The spectral indices between the wavelengths of 0.85 mm and 6 cm are found to be surprisingly low, being 1.6 for both CS disks. The deprojected separation of the binary is 1.26" based on our 1.4 mm continuum data. This is 0.07" (10 AU) larger than in earlier studies. Combining the fact of the variation of UY Aur B in $R$ band, we propose that the CS disk of an undetected companion UY Aur Bb obscures UY Aur Ba. A very complex kinematical pattern inside the CB disk is observed due to a mixing of Keplerian rotation of the CB disk, the infall and outflow gas. The streaming gas accreting from the CB ring toward the CS disks and possible outflows are also identified and resolved. The SO emission is found to be at the bases of the streaming shocks. Our results suggest that the UY Aur system is undergoing an active accretion phase from the CB disk to the CS disks. The UY Aur B might also be a binary system, making the UY Aur a triple system.

Misaligned protoplanetary disks in a young binary star system.

Many extrasolar planets follow orbits that differ from the nearly coplanar and circular orbits found in our Solar System; their orbits may be eccentric or inclined with respect to the host star's equator, and the population of giant planets orbiting close to their host stars suggests appreciable orbital migration. There is at present no consensus on what produces such orbits. Theoretical explanations often invoke interactions with a binary companion star in an orbit that is inclined relative to the planet's orbital plane. Such mechanisms require significant mutual inclinations between the planetary and binary star orbital planes. The protoplanetary disks in a few young binaries are misaligned, but often the measurements of these misalignments are sensitive only to a small portion of the inner disk, and the three-dimensional misalignment of the bulk of the planet-forming disk mass has hitherto not been determined. Here we report that the protoplanetary disks in the young binary system HKTauri are misaligned by 60 to 68degrees, such that one or both of the disks are significantly inclined to the binary orbital plane. Our results demonstrate that the necessary conditions exist for misalignment-driven mechanisms to modify planetary orbits, and that these conditions are present at the time of planet formation, apparently because of the binary formation process.

CIRCUMSTELLAR DISKS AROUND BINARY STARS IN TAURUS

We have conducted a survey of 17 wide (> 100 AU) young binary systems in Taurus with the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) at two wavelengths. The observations were designed to measure the masses of circumstellar disks in these systems as an aid to understanding the role of multiplicity in star and planet formation. The ALMA observations had sufficient resolution to localize emission within the binary system. Disk emission was detected around all primaries and ten secondaries, with disk masses as low as $10^{-4} M_{\odot}$. We compare the properties of our sample to the population of known disks in Taurus and find that the disks from this binary sample match the scaling between stellar mass and millimeter flux of $F_{mm} \propto M_{\ast}^{1.5-2.0}$ to within the scatter found in previous studies. We also compare the properties of the primaries to those of the secondaries and find that the secondary/primary stellar and disk mass ratios are not correlated; in three systems, the circumsecondary disk is more massive than the circumprimary disk, counter to some theoretical predictions.

Direct-imaging discovery of a 12–14 Jupiter-mass object orbiting a young binary system of very low-mass stars

Context. Though only a handful of extrasolar planets have been discovered via direct imaging, each of these discoveries had tremendous impact on our understanding of planetary formation, stellar formation and cool atmosphere physics. Aims. Since many of these newly imaged giant planets orbit massive A or even B stars we investigated whether giant planets could be found orbiting low-mass stars at large separations. Methods. We have been conducting an adaptive optic imaging survey to search for planetary-mass companions of young M dwarfs of the solar neigbourhood, to probe different initial conditions of planetary formation. Results. We report here the direct imaging discovery of 2MASS J01033563-5515561(AB)b, a 12-14 MJup companion at a projected separation of 84 AU from a pair of young late M stars, with which it shares proper motion. We also detected a Keplerian-compatible orbital motion. Conclusions. This young L-type object at planet/brown dwarf mass boundary is the first ever imaged around a binary system at a separation compatible with formation in a disc.

V2107 Cyg: A Young Cyg OB1 Member Binary System With A β Cep Type Pulsating Component

V2107 Cyg is located in the direction of Cyg OB1 stellar association. The eclipsing system consists of an early-B primary and a late-B type secondary component contributing about 6% of the total light. Line profile variability and photometry suggest strongly it is a β Cep type non-radial pulsator. A signature of the faint secondary component is for the first time identified through spectra disentangling.

Reverse rotation of the accretion disk in RW Aur A: Observations and a physical model

Speckle interferometry of the young binary system RW Aur was performed with the 6-m telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences using filters with central wavelengths of 550 nm and 800 nm and pass-band halfwidths of 20 nm and 100 nm, respectively. The angular separation of the binary components was 1.448"{\pm}0.005 and the position angle of the system was 255.9{\deg}{\pm}0.3{\deg} at the observation epoch (JD 2 454 255.9). We find using published data that these values have been changing with mean rates of +0.002"/yr and +0.02{\deg}/yr, respectively, over the past 70 years. This implies that the direction of the orbital motion of the binary system is opposite to the direction of the disk rotation in RW Aur A. We propose a physical model to explain the formation of circumstellar accretion disks rotating in the reverse direction relative to young binary stars surrounded by protoplanetary disks. Our model can explain the characteristic features of the matter flow in RW Aur A: the high accretion rate, small size of the disk around the massive component, and reverse direction of rotation.

A PROPER MOTION STUDY OF THE HARO 6-10 OUTFLOW: EVIDENCE FOR A SUBARCSECOND BINARY

We present single-dish and VLBI observations of an outburst of water maser emission from the young binary system Haro 6-10. Haro 6-10 lies in the Taurus molecular cloud and contains a visible T Tauri star with an infrared companion 1.3" north. Using the Very Long Baseline Array, we obtained five observations spanning 3 months and derived absolute positions for 20 distinct maser spots. Three of the masers can be traced over 3 or more epochs, enabling us to extract absolute proper motions and tangential velocities. We deduce that the masers represent one side of a bipolar outflow that lies nearly in the plane of the sky with an opening angle of ~45\deg. They are located within 50 mas of the southern component of the binary, the visible T Tauri star Haro 6-10S. The mean position angle on the sky of the maser proper motions (~220\deg) suggests they are related to the previously observed giant Herbig-Haro (HH) flow which includes HH410, HH411, HH412, and HH184A-E. A previously observed HH jet and extended radio continuum emission (mean position angle of ~190\deg) must also originate in the vicinity of Haro6-10S and represent a second, distinct outflow in this region. We propose that a yet unobserved companion within 150 mas of Haro6-10S is responsible for the giant HH/maser outflow while the visible star is associated with the HH jet. Despite the presence of H_2 emission in the spectrum of the northern component of the binary, Haro6-10N, none of outflows/jets can be tied directly to this young stellar object.

Protoplanetary disks of T Tauri binary systems in the Orion nebula cluster

We present a study of protoplanetary disks in spatially resolved low-mass binary stars in the Orion Nebula Cluster (ONC) to assess the impact of binarity on the properties of circumstellar disks. This is currently the largest such study in a clustered high-stellar-density star-forming environment. We particularly aim to determine the presence of magnetospheric accretion and dust disks for each binary component, and measure the overall disk frequency. We carried out spatially resolved adaptive-optics-assisted observations to acquire near-IR photometry and spectroscopy of 26 binaries in the ONC, and determine stellar parameters such as effective temperatures, spectral types, luminosities, and masses, as well as accretion properties and near-infrared excesses for the individual binary components. A fraction of 40(+10/-9)% of the binary components in the sample can be inferred to be T Tauri stars possessing an accretion disk, marginally fewer than the disk fraction of single stars. We find that disks in wide binaries of >200AU separation are consistent with random pairing, while the evolution of circumprimary and circumsecondary disks is observed to be synchronized in close binaries (separations <200AU). Circumbinary disks appear to be unsuitable to explain this difference. Furthermore, we identify several mixed pairs of accreting and non-accreting components, suggesting that these systems are common and that there is no preference for either the more or less massive component to evolve faster. The derived accretion luminosities and mass accretion rates of the ONC binary components are of similar magnitude as those for both ONC single stars and binaries in the Taurus star-forming region. The paper concludes with a discussion of the (presumably weak) connection between the presence of inner accretion disks in young binary systems and the existence of planets in stellar multiples.(abridged)

Multi-wavelength observations of the young binary system Haro 6-10: The case of misaligned discs

Context. We present a multi-wavelength, high-resolution observational survey of the young binary system Haro 6-10 (GV Tau, IRAS 04263+2426), which is harbouring one of the few known infrared companions. Aims. The primary goal of this project is to determine the physical and geometrical properties of the circumstellar and circumbinary material in the Haro 6-10 system. Methods. High-resolution optical (HST/WFPC2) and near-infrared (VLT/NACO) images in different bands were analysed to investigate the large-scale structures of the material around the binary.Mid-infrared interferometry (VLTI/MIDI) and spectroscopy (TIMMI2 at the 3.6m ESO telescope) were carried out to determine the structure and optical depth of the circumstellar material around the individual components. Results. The multi-wavelength observations suggest that both components of the binary system Haro 6-10 are embedded in a common envelope. The measured extinction indicates a dust composition of the envelope similar to that of the interstellar medium. Each component of the system has a circumstellar disc-like structure typical of young stars. The discs are highly misaligned: the northern component is seen almost edge-on and the southern component is an almost face-on disc. Conclusions. The two main formation scenarios of binary systems with misaligned discs are the gravitational capture of a passing object in a dense environment, and the fragmentation of the collapsing molecular cloud. Given the low-density environment of the Taurus-Aurigae star-forming region, the first scenario is unlikely for Haro 6-10. The binary system most probably formed via fragmentation of two different parts of the collapsing molecular cloud combined with other dynamical processes related to the cloud and/or the protostars. This can be the explanation also for other binary systems with an infrared companion.

Spectral signatures of disk eccentricity in young binary systems

Star formation occurs via fragmentation of molecular clouds, which means that the majority of stars born are a members of binaries. There is growing evidence that planets might form in circumprimary disks of medium-separation binaries. The tidal forces caused by the secondary generally act to distort the originally circular disk to an eccentric one. To infer the disk eccentricity from high-res NIR spectroscopy, we calculate the fundamental band emission lines of the CO molecule emerging from the atmosphere of the disk. We model circumprimary disk evolution under the gravitational perturbation of the orbiting secondary using a 2D grid-based hydrodynamical code, assuming alpha-type viscosity. The hydrodynamical results are combined with our spectral code based on the double-layer disk model to calculate the CO molecular line profiles. We find that the orbital velocity distribution of the gas parcels differs significantly from the circular Keplerian fashion, thus the line profiles are asymmetric in shape. The magnitude of asymmetry is insensitive to the binary mass ratio, the magnitude of viscosity, and the disk mass. In contrast, the disk eccentricity, thus the level of the line profile asymmetry, is influenced significantly by the binary eccentricity and the disk geometrical thickness. We demonstrate that the disk eccentricity profile in the planet-forming region can be determined by fitting the high-resolution CO line profile asymmetry using a simple 2D spectral model that accounts for the velocity distortions caused by the disk eccentricity. Thus, with our novel approach the disk eccentricity can be inferred with high-resolution near-IR spectroscopy prior to the era of high angular resolution optical or radio direct-imaging. By determining the disk eccentricity in medium-separation young binaries, we might be able to constrain the planet formation theories.

Structure of the circumbinary envelope around a young binary system

The structure of a circumstellar envelope around a young binary T Tauri star is considered. The supersonic orbital motion of the system components in the envelope gas leads to the formation of bow shocks around the star. Two- and three-dimensional numerical modeling indicates an important role of these shocks in the formation of the structure of the circumbinary envelope. In particular, for systems with circular orbits, the size of the central region of the envelope that is not filled with matter (the “gap”) is essentially determined by the parameters of the bow shocks. These modeling results are supported by comparisons of the obtained estimates for the gap parameters with observations.

Modulation of circumstellar extinction in a young binary system with a low-mass companion in a noncoplanar orbit

We consider a model of cyclic brightness variations in a young star with a low-mass (q = M 2/M 1 ≤ 0.1) companion that accretes matter from the remnants of a protostellar cloud (circumbinary disk). We assume that the orbit of the companion is circular and that its plane does not coincide with the disk plane. We have computed grids of hydrodynamic models for such a binary by the SPH method based on which we have investigated the circumstellar extinction variations produced by the streams of matter and density waves excited in the circumbinary disk by the orbital motion of the companion. We show that, depending on the inclination and orientation of the binary’s line of nodes relative to the observer, the brightness of the primary component can undergo various (in shape and depth) oscillations with a period equal to the orbital one. In contrast to the models with coplanar circular orbits, the accretion rate onto the components of a binary with a noncoplanar orbit depends on the orbital phase. The results of our computations can be used to study the cyclic activity of UX Ori stars and young eclipsing binaries with anomalously long eclipses.

High-resolution spectroscopic view of planet formation sites

AbstractTheories of planet formation predict the birth of giant planets in the inner, dense, and gas-rich regions of the circumstellar disks around young stars. These are the regions from which strong CO emission is expected. Observations have so far been unable to confirm the presence of planets caught in formation. We have developed a novel method to detect a giant planet still embedded in a circumstellar disk by the distortions of the CO molecular line profiles emerging from the protoplanetary disk's surface. The method is based on the fact that a giant planet significantly perturbs the gas velocity flow in addition to distorting the disk surface density. We have calculated the emerging molecular line profiles by combining hydrodynamical models with semianalytic radiative transfer calculations. Our results have shown that a giant Jupiter-like planet can be detected using contemporary or future high-resolution near-IR spectrographs such as VLT/CRIRES or ELT/METIS. We have also studied the effects of binarity on disk perturbations. The most interesting results have been found for eccentric circumprimary disks in mid-separation binaries, for which the disk eccentricity - detectable from the asymmetric line profiles - arises from the gravitational effects of the companion star. Our detailed simulations shed new light on how to constrain the disk kinematical state as well as its eccentricity profile. Recent findings by independent groups have shown that core-accretion is severely affected by disk eccentricity, hence detection of an eccentric protoplanetary disk in a young binary system would further constrain planet formation theories.

Interpretation of the light curve for the young binary (?) system UY Aur

Using visual, photographic, and photoelectric measurements, we have constructed a historical light curve for the young binary system UY Aur on an interval longer than 100 yr. About a quarter of all magnitude estimates have been obtained for the first time from photographic plates of the Sternberg Astronomical Institute and Harvard College Observatory Astronomical Plate Stacks. Analysis of the light curve and the magnitude dependences of the polarization and color has led us to the following conclusions. Cyclic variations in the seasonally mean brightness of the binary’s primary component UY Aur A with a period of ≃16.3 yr occurred from the mid-1920s to the mid-1940s and after 1986. The variations are caused by the change in the rate of disk accretion onto the star attributable to the motion of the hypothetical companion UY Aur C around the primary star in an orbit with a semimajor axis of ≃ 6 AU. From the early 1950s to the mid-1980s, the periodicity of the seasonally mean variations was not noticeable due to nonperiodic eclipses of UY Aur A by gas-dust clouds. Between 1945 and 1974, another gas-dust cloud obscured and still obscures the component UY Aur B, causing its mean optical brightness to drop by several magnitudes. The role of the clouds that caused an almost simultaneous eclipse of the stars, whose separation in projection onto the celestial sphere exceeds 100 AU, is played by the denser and puffed-up regions of their accretion disks. These regions are the result of a dynamical interaction between the binary’s stars and the outer circumbinary accretion disk. The extinction variations with time are attributable to orbital motion of the binary’s stars and azimuthal inhomogeneity of the clump regions in the disks. A number of observational tests are suggested to verify our conclusions.

Brightness oscillations in models of young binary systems with low-mass secondary components

We consider a model for the cyclic brightness variations of a young star with a low-mass companion that accretes matter from the remnants of a protostellar cloud. At small inclinations of the binary orbit to the line of sight, the streams of matter and the density waves excited in the circumbinary disk can screen the primary component of the binary from the observer. To study these phenomena, we have computed grids of hydrodynamic models for binary systems by the SPH method based on which we have constructed the phase light curves as a function of the rotation angle of the apsidal line relative to the observer. The model parameters were varied within the following ranges: the component mass ratio q = 0.01-0.1 and the eccentricity e = 0-0.5. We adopted optical grain characteristics typical of circumstellar dust. Our computations have shown that the brightness oscillations with orbital phase can have a complex structure. The amplitudes and shapes of the light curves depend strongly on the inclination of the binary orbit and its orientation relative to the observer and on the accretion rate. The results of our computations are used to analyze the cyclic activity of UX Ori stars.

Mechanism for cyclical activity of the Herbig Ae star BF Ori

The photometric activity of the star BF Ori, which belongs to the family of UX Ori-type stars, is studied. New data obtained with the ASAS robotic telescope confirm the existence of a cyclical component in the light curve for this star with a duration of roughly 11-12 years. The form of the photometric cycle resembles the theoretical light curves for a young binary system with a low-mass secondary component, and which is accreting matter from a surrounding common disk. Alternative mechanisms for the cyclical variability of UX Ori stars are also discussed.

QUASI-PERIODIC FORMALDEHYDE MASER FLARES IN THE MASSIVE PROTOSTELLAR OBJECT IRAS 18566+0408

We report results of an extensive observational campaign of the 6 cm formaldehyde maser in the young massive stellar object IRAS18566+0408 (G37.55+0.20) conducted from 2002 to 2009. Using Arecibo, VLA, and GBT, we discovered quasi-periodic formaldehyde flares (P ~ 237 days). Based on Arecibo observations, we also discovered correlated variability between formaldehyde (H2CO) and methanol (CH3OH) masers. The H2CO and CH3OH masers are not spatially coincident, as demonstrated by different line velocities and high angular resolution MERLIN observations. The flares could be caused by variations in the infrared radiation field, possibly modulated by periodic accretion onto a young binary system.

The UBVRI photometry and polarimetry of the young binary system V628 Cas

The results of multicolor photopolarimetric observations of the Ae/Be Herbig star V628 Cas are presented. It has been shown that the observed changes of the linear polarization correlate with the phase of the orbital period. The system demonstrated changes in brightness, the amplitude of which decreases from 0.4 to 0.1m when moving from the U band to the I band. No dependence of the polarization degree on the brightness is observed.