We present a census of circumstellar disks in the Chamaeleon I star-forming region. Using the Infrared Array Camera and the Multiband Imaging Photometer onboard the Spitzer Space Telescope, we have obtained images of Chamaeleon I at 3.6, 4.5, 5.8, 8.0, and 24 um. To search for new disk-bearing members of the cluster, we have performed spectroscopy on objects that have red colors in these data. Through this work, we have discovered four new members of Chamaeleon I with spectral types of M4, M6, M7.5, and L0. The first three objects are highly embedded (A_J~5) and reside near known protostars, indicating that they may be among the youngest low-mass sources in the cluster (<1 Myr). The L0 source is the coolest known member of Chamaeleon I. Its luminosity implies a mass of 0.004-0.01 M_sun, making it the least massive brown dwarf for which a circumstellar disk has been reliably detected. To characterize the disk population in Chamaeleon I, we have classified the infrared spectral energy distributions of the 203 known members that are encompassed by the Spitzer images. Through these classifications, we find that the disk fraction in Chamaeleon I is roughly constant at ~50% from 0.01 to 0.3 M_sun. These data are similar to the disk fraction of IC 348, which is a denser cluster at the same age as Chamaeleon I. However, the disk fraction at M>1 M_sun is significantly higher in Chamaeleon I than in IC 348 (65% vs. 20%), indicating longer disk lifetimes in Chamaeleon I for this mass range. Thus, low-density star-forming regions like Chamaeleon I may offer more time for planet formation around solar-type stars than denser clusters.
Disks in the 6 Myr old cluster eta Chamaeleontis were searched for emission from hot H2. Around the M3 star ECHAJ0843.3-7905 we detect circumstellar gas orbiting at ~2 AU. If the gas is UV-excited, the ro-vibrational line traces a hot gas layer supported by a disk of mass ~0.03Msolar, similar to the minimum mass solar nebula. Such a gas reservoir at 6 Myr would promote the formation and inwards migration of gas giant planets.
We present the results of a deep optical survey in the Corona Australis and Chamaeleon II star forming regions. Our optical photometry is combined with available near- and mid-infrared photometry to identify very low-mass candidate members in these dark clouds. In our Chamaeleon II field, only one object exhibits clear H-alpha emission, but the discrepancy between its optical and near-infrared colours suggests that it might be a foreground star. We also identify two objects without H-alpha emission that could be planetary mass members of Chamaeleon II. In Corona Australis, we find ten stars an…
We present new L' (3.8-micron) observations of stars in the nearby (~97 pc) young (~6 Myr) compact cluster around eta Chamaeleontis, obtained with the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope in Paranal, Chile. Our data, combined with J,H, Ks photometry from the 2-Micron All Sky Survey, reveal that only two of the 12 members surveyed harbor L'-band excesses consistent with optically thick inner disks; both are also likely accretors. Intriguingly, two other stars with possible evidence for on-going accretion, albeit at very low rates, do not show significant infrared excess: this ma…
Optical spectroscopy has been obtained for 179 objects that have been previously identified as possible members of the cluster, that lack either accurate spectral types or clear evidence of membership, and that are optically visible (I<18). I have used these spectroscopic data and all other available constraints to evaluate the spectral classifications and membership status of a total sample of 288 candidate members of Chamaeleon I that have appeared in published studies of the cluster. The latest census of Chamaeleon I now contains 158 members, 8 of which are later than M6 and thus are likely…
We have used images obtained with the Infrared Array Camera and the Multiband Imaging Photometer onboard the Spitzer Space Telescope to search for low-mass stars and brown dwarfs with circumstellar disks in the Chamaeleon I star-forming region. Through optical spectroscopy of sources with red colors in these data, we have identified seven new disk-bearing members of the cluster. Three of these objects are probably brown dwarfs according to their spectral types (M8, M8.5, M8-L0). Three of the other new members may have edge-on disks based on the shapes of their infrared spectral energy distribu…
Using the Infrared Array Camera (IRAC) aboard the Spitzer Space Telescope, we have obtained mid-infrared photometry for 25 and 18 low-mass members of the IC 348 and Chamaeleon I star-forming clusters, respectively (>M6, M<=0.08 Msun). We find that 42+/-13% and 50+/-17% of the two samples exhibit excess emission indicative of circumstellar disks. In comparison, the disk fractions for stellar members of these clusters are 33+/-4% and 45+/-7% (M0-M6, 0.7 Msun>=M>=0.1 Msun). The similarity of the disk fractions of stars and brown dwarfs is consistent with a common formation mechanism and indicates…
I present a new census of the stellar population in the Chamaeleon I star-forming region. Using optical and near-IR photometry and followup spectroscopy, I have discovered 50 new members of Chamaeleon I, expanding the census of known members to 226 objects. Fourteen of these new members have spectral types later than M6, which doubles the number of known members that are likely to be substellar. I have estimated extinctions, luminosities, and effective temperatures for the known members, used these data to construct an H-R diagram for the cluster, and inferred individual masses and ages with t…
The formation of planets is directly linked to the evolution of the circumstellar (CS) disk from which they are born. The dissipation timescales of CS disks are, therefore, of direct astrophysical importance in evaluating the time available for planet formation. We employ Spitzer Space Telescope spectra to complete the CS disk census for the late-type members of the ~8 Myr-old eta Chamaeleontis star cluster. Of the 15 K- and M-type members, eight show excess emission. We find that the presence of a CS disk is anti-correlated with binarity, with all but one disk associated with single stars. Wi…
We present a comprehensive study of disks around 81 young low-mass stars and brown dwarfs in the nearby ~2-Myr-old Chamaeleon I star-forming region. We use mid-infrared photometry from the Spitzer Space Telescope, supplemented by findings from ground-based high-resolution optical spectroscopy and adaptive optics imaging. We derive disk fractions of 52 (+/-6) % and 58 (+6/-7) % based on 8-micron and 24-micron colour excesses, respectively, consistent with those reported for other clusters of similar age. Within the uncertainties, the disk frequency in our sample of K3-M8 objects in Cha I does n…
The dark clouds in the constellation of Chamaeleon have distances of 160-180 pc from the Sun and a total mass of ~5000 M_sun. The three main clouds, Cha I, II, and III, have angular sizes of a few square degrees and maximum extinctions of A_V=5-10. Most of the star formation in these clouds is occurring in Cha I, with the remainder in Cha II. The current census of Cha I contains 237 known members, 33 of which have spectral types indicative of brown dwarfs (>M6). Approximately 50 members of Cha II have been identified, including a few brown dwarfs. When interpreted with the evolutionary models …
We present the results of a J, H, and K_s photometric monitoring campaign of a 0.72 x 6 sq deg. area centered on the Chamaeleon I star forming region. Data were obtained on 15 separate nights over a 4 month time interval using the 2MASS South telescope. Out of a total of 34,539 sources brighter than the photometric completeness limits (J=16.0, H=15.2, K_s=14.8), 95 exhibit near-infrared variability in one or more bands. The variables can be grouped into a population of bright, red objects that are associated with the Chamaeleon I association, and a population of faint, blue variables that are …
We report the discovery of quiescent emission from molecular hydrogen gas located in the circumstellar disks of six pre-main sequence stars, including two weak-line T Tauri stars (TTS), and one Herbig AeBe star, in the Chamaeleon I star forming region. For two of these stars, we also place upper limits on the 2->1 S(1)/1->0 S(1) line ratios of 0.4 and 0.5. Of the 11 pre-main sequence sources now known to be sources of quiescent near-infrared hydrogen emission, four possess transitional disks, which suggests that detectable levels of H$_2$ emission and the presence of inner disk holes are corre…
We present low resolution (R = 500) near-infrared spectra of 46 candidate young stellar objects in the Chamaeleon I star-forming region recently detected in several deep photometric surveys of the cloud. Most of these stars have K < 12. In addition, we present spectra of 63 previously known southern hemisphere young stars mainly belonging to the Chamaeleon I and Lupus dark clouds. We describe near-infrared spectroscopic characteristics of these stars and use the water vapor indexes to derive spectral types for the new objects. Photometric data from the literature are used to estimate the bolom…
We report on a multiplicity survey of a sample of X-ray selected young stars in the Chamaeleon association. We used speckle-interferometry and direct imaging to find companions in the separation range 0.13" to 6". After correction for chance alignment with background stars, we find a multiplicity (number of binaries or multiples divided by number of systems) of (14.0+-4.3)% and a companion star frequency (number of companions divided by number of systems) of (14.7+-5.1)%. Compared to solar-type main-sequence stars, the companion star frequency is lower by a factor of 0.61+-0.27. This is remark…
A limited-area survey of the eta Chamaeleontis cluster has identified 2 new late-type members. The more significant of these is ECHA J0843.3-7905 (= IRAS F08450-7854), a slowly-rotating (P = 12 d) M2 classical T Tauri (CTT) star with a spectrum dominated by Balmer emission. At a distance of 97 pc and cluster age of approx 9 Myr, the star is a nearby rare example of an 'old' CTT star and promises to be a rewarding laboratory for the study of disk structure and evolution in pre-main sequence (PMS) stars. The other new member is the M4 weak-lined T Tauri (WTT) star ECHA J0841.5-7853, which is the…
We discuss the results of the optical spectroscopic follow-up of pre-main sequence (PMS) objects and candidates selected in the Chamaeleon II dark cloud based on data from the Spitzer Legacy survey "From Molecular Cores to Planet Forming Disks" (c2d) and from previous surveys. Our sample includes both objects with infrared excess selected according to c2d criteria and referred to as Young Stellar Objects and other cloud members and candidates selected from complementary optical and near-infrared data. We characterize the sample of objects by deriving their physical parameters. The vast majorit…
We present the results of a multiband survey for brown dwarfs in the Chamaeleon I dark cloud with the Wide Field Imager (WFI) camera at the ESO/MPG 2.2-m telescope on La Silla (Chile). The survey has revealed a substantial population of brown dwarfs in this southern star forming region. Candidates were selected from R, I and H-alpha imaging observations. We also observed in two medium-band filters, M855 and M915, for the purpose of spectral type determination. The former filter covers a wavelength range containing spectral features characteristic of M-dwarfs, while the latter lies in a relativ…
We revisit the published analyses of ROSAT X-ray observations of the star forming regions NGC 2264 and Chamaeleon I (~3 and ~5 Myr old respectively) in the light of newly published optical data. At odds with previous results on Chamaeleon I members, we find that low mass stars in both regions have near-saturated emission levels. Similarly to what previously found in the Orion Nebula Cluster, Weak Line T-Tauri Stars in NGC 2264 and in the Chamaeleon I cloud have higher X-ray activity levels respect to Classical T Tauri Stars, arguing in favor of a role of the disk and/or accretion in determinin…
We present spectroscopy of two candidate substellar members of the Chamaeleon I star-forming region. The candidates, which were identified photometrically by Oasa, Tamura, & Sugitani, have been observed at 1-2.5 micron during commissioning of the Gemini Near-Infrared Spectrograph. The late-type nature of one of the candidates, OTS 44, is confirmed through the detection of strong steam absorption bands. The other object, OTS 7, exhibits no late-type features and is likely a background star or galaxy. The gravity-sensitive shape of the H- and K-band continua demonstrate that OTS 44 is a young, p…
This paper presents an analysis of the nature of point sources discovered by DENIS in an area of 1.5 x 3 degrees around the Chamaeleon I molecular cloud. Most of the 30000 objects detected in the J band are background stars that were previously used to derive an accurate extinction map of the full area (Cambresy et al., 1997) using star count method. In the present work, we investigate the young stellar population of the cloud using the IJK photometric DENIS data. The whole sample of 126 already known YSOs, which are mainly T Tauri stars, are identified in the DENIS catalogue. Besides, we prop…
Aims: The primary motivation for this project is to search for metal-rich star forming regions, in which, stars of super-solar metallicity will be created, as hopefully, will be extra-solar planets orbiting them ! Results: We find (pre-main sequence) model-dependent isochronal ages of the Lupus, Chamaeleon and CrA targets to be $9.1 \pm 2.1$ Myr, $4.5 \pm 1.6$ Myr and $9.0 \pm 3.9$ Myr respectively. The majority of the stars have Li I 6707.8A equivalent widths similar to, or above those of, their similar mass Pleiades counterparts, confirming their youthfulness. Most stars are kinematic member…
We present the results of a multiplicity survey of 126 stars spanning ~0.1-3 solar masses in the ~2-Myr-old Chamaeleon I star-forming region, based on adaptive optics imaging with the ESO Very Large Telescope. Our observations have revealed 30 binaries and 6 triples, of which 19 and 4, respectively, are new discoveries. The overall multiplicity fraction we find for Cha I (~30%) is similar to those reported for other dispersed young associations, but significantly higher than seen in denser clusters and the field, for comparable samples. Both the frequency and the maximum separation of Cha I bi…
We investigate the relationship between the C18O column density and the visual extinction in Chamaeleon I and in a part of the Chamaeleon III molecular cloud. The C18O column densities, N(C18O), are calculated from J=1-0 rotational line data observed with the SEST telescope. The visual extinctions, Av, are derived using JHK photometry from the 2MASS survey and the NICER color excess technique. In contrast with the previous results of Hayakawa et al. (2001), we find that the average N(C18O) / Av ratios are similar in Cha I and Cha III, and lie close to values derived for other clouds, i.e. N(C1…
The SPIREX telescope, located at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, was a prototype system developed to exploit the excellent conditions for IR observing at the South Pole. Observations over two winter seasons achieved remarkably deep, high-resolution, wide-field images in the 3-5um wavelength regime. Several star forming complexes were observed, including NGC 6334, Chamaeleon I, eta Chamaeleontis, the Carina Nebula, 30 Doradus, RCW 57, RCW 38, as well as the Galactic Centre. Images were obtained of lines at 2.42um H2, 3.29um PAH and 4.05um Bra, as well as 3.5um L-band and 4.7um M-band con…
We discuss the results from the combined IRAC and MIPS c2d Spitzer Legacy survey observations and complementary optical and near infrared data of the Chamaeleon II (Cha II) dark cloud. We perform a census of the young population of Cha II, in a mapped area of ~1.75 square degrees, and study the spatial distribution and properties of the cloud members and candidate pre-main sequence (PMS) objects and their circumstellar matter. From the analysis of the volume density of the PMS objects and candidates we find two tight groups of objects with volume densities higher than 25 solar masses per cubic…
During an imaging survey of the Chamaeleon I star-forming region with the ACS aboard HST, we have discovered a candidate substellar companion to the young low-mass star CHXR 73 (~2 Myr, M=0.35 Msun). We measure a projected separation of 1.3+/-0.03" for the companion, CHXR 73 B, which corresponds to 210 AU at the distance of the cluster. A near-infrared spectrum of this source obtained with CorMASS at the Magellan II telescope exhibits strong steam absorption that confirms its late-type nature (>=M9.5). In addition, the gravity-sensitive shapes of the H- and K-band continua demonstrate that CHX…
We investigate the evolution of X-ray stellar activity from the age of the youngest known star forming regions (SFR), < 1Myr, to about 100 Myr, i.e. the zero age main sequence (ZAMS) for a ~ 1M_sun star. We consider five SFR of varying age (Rho Ophiuchi, the Orion Nebula Cluster, NGC 2264, Chamaeleon I, and Eta Chamaeleontis) and two young clusters (the Pleiades and NGC 2516). Optical and X-ray data for these regions are retrieved both from archival observations and recent literature, and reanalyzed here in a consistent manner so to minimize systematic differences in the results. We study tren…
We discuss the spectral energy distribution of three very low mass objects in Chamaeleon I for which ground-based spectroscopy and photometry as well as ISO measurements in the mid-infrared are available (Comeron et al. 2000; Persi et al. 2000). One of these stars (Cha Halpha1) is a bona-fide brown dwarf, with mass 0.04-0.05 Msun. We show that the observed emission is very well described by models of circumstellar disks identical to those associated to T Tauri stars, scaled down to keep the ratio of the disk-to-star mass constant and to the appropriate stellar parameters. This result provides …
I present observations of a new faint double, 2MASS J11011926-7732383AB, toward the Chamaeleon I star-forming region. From optical and near-infrared images of the pair, I measure a separation of 1.44" and extract RIJHK_s photometry of the components (I_A=17.21, dI=1.07, K_s A=11.97, dK_s=0.84). I use resolved optical spectroscopy to derive spectral types of M7.25 and M8.25 for the A and B components, respectively. Based on the strengths of gravity-sensitive features in these data, such as the Na I and K I absorption lines, I conclude that these objects are young members of Chamaeleon I rather …
ISO observations will improve our understanding of disks around low-mass pre-main-sequence stars in various ways. In particular, ISO can measure simultaneously spectral energy distributions and low-resolution spectra from 2 to 12 \um of T Tauri stars with greater sensitivity, greater spectral coverage and finer spectral resolution than available in ground-based observations or with IRAS. We illustrate the importance of such observations for our understanding of the disk structure and heating mechanisms, the disk evolution (in particular the formation of gaps caused by the presence of companion…
The first results from a VLT-ISAAC program on L- and M-band infrared spectroscopy of deeply-embedded young stellar objects are presented. The advent of 8-m class telescopes allows high S/N spectra of low-luminosity sources to be obtained. In our first observing run, low- and medium-resolution spectra have been measured toward a dozen objects, mostly in the Vela and Chamaeleon molecular clouds. The spectra show strong absorption of H2O and CO ice, as well as weak features at `3.47' and 4.62 mu. No significant solid CH3OH feature at 3.54 mu is found, indicating that the CH3OH/H2O ice abundance i…
We present low-resolution mid-infrared spectra of nine classical T Tauri stars associated with the Chamaeleon I dark cloud. The data were obtained with the PHOT-S instrument on-board the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) in the two wavelength ranges 2.5-4.9 and 5.9-11.7 microns. All nine stars show evidence of silicate emission at 10 microns, which is the only prominent feature in the spectra. We discuss a model for the origin of these features in a hot optically-thin surface layer of the circumstellar disks surrounding the central young stars (i.e. a disk atmosphere). We report excellent agree…
We present proper motion measurements of pre-main sequence (PMS) stars associated with major star-forming regions of the southern hemisphere (Chamaeleon, Lupus, Upper Scorpius - Ophiuchus, Corona Australis), situated in the galactic longitude range l = 290\degr to l = 360\degr. A list of PMS stars as complete as possible was established based on the Herbig and Bell catalogue and many new catalogues like the PDS survey, the catalogue of Herbig Ae/Be stars by Thé et al. (1994), X-rays surveys, etc. The measurements made use of public material (mainly AC2000 and USNO--A2.0 catalogues) as well as …
Using 2D nonlinear simulations, we study the generation and nonlinear evolution of spiral structure in a star-forming multi-component gravitating disk. We confirm in agreement with previous studies the destabilizing role of a cold gaseous component and extend this conclusion for multi-component star-forming disks exchanging mass and momentum between its components. We show that the spiral structure growing on a non-stationary multi-phase background reaches its saturation in a similar manner like the one-component disks. The spiral structure survives even if most of the gas is transformed into …
Using the Infrared Array Camera (IRAC) aboard the Spitzer Space Telescope, we have obtained mid-infrared photometry of the least massive known brown dwarf in the Chamaeleon I star-forming region. For this young brown dwarf, OTS 44, we have constructed a spectral energy distribution (SED) from 0.8-8 um by combining the measurements at 3.6, 4.5, 5.8, and 8.0 um from IRAC with ground-based photometry at I, J, H, and K. The resulting SED for OTS 44 exhibits significant excess emission longward of 3 um relative to the SED expected from the photosphere of the brown dwarf. We have successfully modele…
We have mapped the eta Chamaeleontis young stellar association in the far-infrared with the Multiband Imaging Photometer for Spitzer (MIPS) on the Spitzer Space Telescope. All sixteen members within the map region were detected at 24 um, along with five members at 70 um and two at 160 um. Ten stars show far-infrared excess emission indicating the presence of circumstellar disks; six of these have central clearings as evidenced by the onset of excess emission at >5 um. No new infrared excess sources are identified among the 113 2MASS field stars with 24 um photometry but not seen as X-ray sourc…
The chemical and photometric evolution of star forming disk galaxies is investigated. Numerical simulations of the complex gasdynamical flows are based on our own coding of the Chemo - Dynamical Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamical (CD - SPH) approach, which incorporates the effects of star formation. As a first application, the model is used to describe the chemical and photometric evolution of a disk galaxy like the Milky Way.
We have combined new I, J, H, and Ks imaging of portions of the Chamaeleon II, Lupus I, and Ophiuchus star-forming clouds with 3.6 to 24 micron imaging from the Spitzer Legacy Program, "From Molecular Clouds to Planet Forming Disks", to identify a sample of 19 young stars, brown dwarfs and sub-brown dwarfs showing mid-infrared excess emission. The resulting sample includes sources with luminosities of 0.5>log(L/Lsun)>-3.1. Six of the more luminous sources in our sample have been previously identified by other surveys for young stars and brown dwarfs. Five of the sources in our sample have nomi…
The SIRTF mission and the Legacy programs will provide coherent data bases for extra-galactic and Galactic science that will rapidly become available to researchers through a public archive. The capabilities of SIRTF and the six legacy programs are described briefly. Then the cores to disks (c2d) program is described in more detail. The c2d program will use all three SIRTF instruments (IRAC, MIPS, and IRS) to observe sources from molecular cores to protoplanetary disks, with a wide range of cloud masses, stellar masses, and star-forming environments. The SIRTF data will stimulate many follow-u…
Kant and Laplace suggested the Solar System formed from a rotating gaseous disk in the 18th century, but convincing evidence that young stars are indeed surrounded by such disks was not presented for another 200 years. As we move into the 21st century the emphasis is now on disk formation, the role of disks in star formation, and on how planets form in those disks. Radio wavelengths play a key role in these studies, currently providing some of the highest spatial resolution images of disks, along with evidence of the growth of dust grains into planetesimals. The future capabilities of EVLA and…
We perform radiation hydrodynamics simulations on the evolution of galactic gas disks irradiated by ultraviolet radiation background. We find gas disks with N_H > 10^21 cm^-2 exposed to ultraviolet radiation at a level of I_21=1 can be self-shielded from photoheating, whereas the disk with N_H < 10^21 cm^-2 cannot. We also find that the unshielded disks keep smooth density distribution without any sign of fragmentation, while the self-shielded disks easily fragment into small pieces by self-gravity, possibly followed by star formation. The suppression of star formation in unshielded disks is d…
A new Chemo-Dynamical Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamic (CD-SPH) code is presented. The disk galaxy is described as a multi-fragmented gas and star system, embedded in a cold dark matter halo with a rigid potential field. The star formation (SF) process, SNII, SNIa and PN events, and the chemical enrichment of gas, have all been considered within the framework of the standard SPH model, which we use to describe the dynamical and chemical evolution of triaxial disk-like galaxies. It is found that such approach provides a realistic description of the process of formation, chemical and dynamical evo…
The spectral type is a key parameter in calibrating the temperature which is required to estimate the mass of young stars and brown dwarfs. We describe an approach developed to classify low-mass stars and brown dwarfs in the Trapezium Cluster using red optical spectra, which can be applied to other star-forming regions. The classification uses two methods for greater accuracy: the use of narrowband spectral indices which rely on the variation of the strength of molecular lines with spectral type and a comparison with other previously classified young, low-mass objects in the Chamaeleon I star-…
Contrary to traditional models of galaxy formation, recent observations suggest that some bulges form within preexisting disk galaxies. Such late-epoch bulge formation within disks seems to be linked to disk gas inflow and central star formation, caused by either internal secular processes or galaxy mergers and interactions. We identify a population of galaxies likely to be experiencing active bulge growth within disks, using the criterion that the color within the half-light radius is bluer than the outer disk color. Such blue-centered galaxies make up >10% of star-forming disk galaxies withi…
It is now well established that many young brown dwarfs exhibit characteristics similar to classical T Tauri stars, including infrared excess from disks and emission lines related to accretion. Whether the same holds true for even lower mass objects, namely those near and below the Deuterium-burning limit, is an important question. Here we present optical spectra of six isolated planetary mass candidates in Chamaeleon II, Lupus I and Ophiuchus star-forming regions, recently identified by Allers and collaborators to harbor substantial mid-infrared excesses. Our spectra, from ESO's Very Large Te…
We present the results of a coronagraphic scattered-light imaging survey of six young disk candidate stars using the Hubble Space Telescope Advanced Camera for Surveys. The observations made use of the 1.8" occulting spot through the F606W (broad V) filter. Circumstellar material was imaged around HD 97048, a Herbig Ae/Be star located in the Chamaeleon I dark cloud at a distance of 180 pc. The material is seen between ~2" (360 AU) and ~4" (720 AU) from the star in all directions. A V-band azimuthally-averaged radial surface brightness profile peaks at r = 2" with a value of 19.6 +/- 0.2 mag ar…
Planetary systems, ours included, are formed in disks of dust and gas around young stars. Disks are an integral part of the star and planet formation process, and knowledge of the distribution and temperature of inner disk material is crucial for understanding terrestrial planet formation, giant planet migration, and accretion onto the central star. While the inner regions of protoplanetary disks in nearby star forming regions subtend only a few nano-radians, near-IR interferometry has recently enabled the spatial resolution of these terrestrial zones. Most observations have probed only dust, …
SMA observations of the massive star-forming region IRAS 18089-1732 in the 1mm and 850mu band reveal outflow and disk signatures in different molecular lines. The SiO(5--4) data show a collimated outflow in the northern direction. In contrast, the HCOOCH3(20--19) line, which traces high-density gas, is confined to the very center of the region and shows a velocity gradient across the core. The HCOOCH3 velocity gradient is not exactly perpendicular to the outflow axis but between an assumed disk plane and the outflow axis. We interpret these HCOOCH3 features as originating from a rotating disk …
We report the findings of a comprehensive study of disk accretion and related phenomena in four of the nearest young stellar associations spanning 6-30 million years in age, an epoch that may coincide with the late stages of planet formation. We have obtained ~650 multi-epoch high-resolution optical spectra of 100 low-mass stars that are likely members of the eta Chamaeleontis (~6 Myr), TW Hydrae (~8 Myr), beta Pictoris (~12 Myr) and Tucanae-Horologium (~30 Myr) groups. Our data were collected over 12 nights between 2004 December - 2005 July on the Magellan Clay 6.5m telescope. Based on H$α$ l…
