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Register a new userThe Mysterious Dimmings of the T Tauri Star V1334 Tau
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Joseph Rodriguez Jr.
Publication date
2017
fields
Physics
and research's language is
English
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We present the discovery of two extended $sim$0.12 mag dimming events of the weak-lined T-Tauri star V1334. The start of the first event was missed but came to an end in late 2003, and the second began in February 2009, and continues as of November 2016. Since the egress of the current event has not yet been observed, it suggests a period of $>$13 years if this event is periodic. Spectroscopic observations suggest the presence of a small inner disk, although the spectral energy distribution shows no infrared excess. We explore the possibility that the dimming events are caused by an orbiting body (e.g. a disk warp or dust trap), enhanced disk winds, hydrodynamical fluctuations of the inner disk, or a significant increase in the magnetic field flux at the surface of the star. We also find a $sim$0.32 day periodic photometric signal that persists throughout the 2009 dimming which appears to not be due to ellipsoidal variations from a close stellar companion. High precision photometric observations of V1334 Tau during K2 campaign 13, combined with simultaneous photometric and spectroscopic observations from the ground, will provide crucial information about the photometric variability and its origin.
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We report results of an extended spectropolarimetric and photometric monitoring of the weak-line T Tauri star V830 Tau and its recently-detected newborn close-in giant planet. Our observations, carried out within the MaTYSSE programme, were spread over 91d, and involved the ESPaDOnS and Narval spectropolarimeters linked to the 3.6m Canada-France-Hawaii, the 2m Bernard Lyot and the 8-m Gemini-North Telescopes. Using Zeeman-Doppler Imaging, we characterize the surface brightness distributions, magnetic topologies and surface differential rotation of V830 Tau at the time of our observations, and demonstrate that both distributions evolve with time beyond what is expected from differential rotation. We also report that near the end of our observations, V830 Tau triggered one major flare and two weaker precursors, showing up as enhanced red-shifted emission in multiple spectral activity proxies. With 3 different filtering techniques, we model the radial velocity (RV) activity jitter (of semi-amplitude 1.2km/s) that V830 Tau generates, successfully retrieve the 68m/s RV planet signal hiding behind the jitter, further confirm the existence of V830 Tau b and better characterize its orbital parameters. We find that the method based on Gaussian-process regression performs best thanks to its higher ability at modelling not only the activity jitter, but also its temporal evolution over the course of our observations, and succeeds at reproducing our RV data down to a rms precision of 35m/s. Our result provides new observational constraints on scenarios of star / planet formation and demonstrates the scientific potential of large-scale searches for close-in giant planets around T Tauri stars.
We present new brightness and magnetic images of the weak-line T Tauri star V410 Tau, made using data from the NARVAL spectropolarimeter at Telescope Bernard Lyot (TBL). The brightness image shows a large polar spot and significant spot coverage at lower latitudes. The magnetic maps show a field that is predominantly dipolar and non-axisymmetric with a strong azimuthal component. The field is 50% poloidal and 50% toroidal, and there is very little differential rotation apparent from the magnetic images. A photometric monitoring campaign on this star has previously revealed V-band variability of up to 0.6 magnitudes but in 2009 the lightcurve is much flatter. The Doppler image presented here is consistent with this low variability. Calculating the flux predicted by the mapped spot distribution gives an peak-to-peak variability of 0.04 magnitudes. The reduction in the amplitude of the lightcurve, compared with previous observations, appears to be related to a change in the distribution of the spots, rather than the number or area. This paper is the first from a Zeeman-Doppler imaging campaign being carried out on V410 Tau between 2009-2012 at TBL. During this time it is expected that the lightcurve will return to a high amplitude state, allowing us to ascertain whether the photometric changes are accompanied by a change in the magnetic field topology.
The circumstellar environments of classical T Tauri stars are challenging to directly image because of their high star-to-disk contrast ratio. One method to overcome this is by using imaging polarimetry where scattered and consequently polarised starlight from the stars circumstellar disk can be separated from the unpolarised light of the central star. We present images of the circumstellar environment of SU Aur, a classical T Tauri star at the transition of T Tauri to Herbig stars. The images directly show that the disk extends out to ~500 au with an inclination angle of $sim$ 50$^circ$. Using interpretive models, we derived very small grains in the surface layers of its disk, with a very steep size- and surface-density distribution. Additionally, we resolved a large and extended nebulosity in our images that is most likely a remnant of the prenatal molecular cloud. The position angle of the disk, determined directly from our images, rules out a polar outflow or jet as the cause of this large-scale nebulosity.
Context. Classical T Tauri stars (cTTs) are pre-main sequence stars surrounded by an accretion disk. They host a strong magnetic field, and both magnetospheric accretion and ejection processes develop as the young magnetic star interacts with its disk. Studying this interaction is a major goal toward understanding the properties of young stars and their evolution. Aims. The goal of this study is to investigate the accretion process in the young stellar system HQ Tau, an intermediate-mass T Tauri star (1.9 M$_{odot}$). Methods. The time variability of the system is investigated both photometrically, using Kepler-K2 and complementary light curves, and from a high-resolution spectropolarimetric time series obtained with ESPaDOnS at CFHT. Results. The quasi-sinusoidal Kepler-K2 light curve exhibits a period of 2.424 d, which we ascribe to the rotational period of the star. The radial velocity of the system shows the same periodicity, as expected from the modulation of the photospheric line profiles by surface spots. A similar period is found in the red wing of several emission lines (e.g., HI, CaII, NaI), due to the appearance of inverse P Cygni components, indicative of accretion funnel flows. Signatures of outflows are also seen in the line profiles, some being periodic, others transient. The polarimetric analysis indicates a complex, moderately strong magnetic field which is possibly sufficient to truncate the inner disk close to the corotation radius, r$_{cor}$ $sim$3.5 R$_{star}$. Additionally, we report HQ Tau to be a spectroscopic binary candidate whose orbit remains to be determined. Conclusions. The results of this study expand upon those previously reported for low-mass T Tauri stars, as they indicate that the magnetospheric accretion process may still operate in intermediate-mass pre-main sequence stars, such as HQ Tau.
Planets are thought to form at the early stage of stellar evolution when the mass accretion is still ongoing. RY Tau is a T Tauri type star at the age of a few Myr, with accretion disc seen at high inclination, so that line of sight crosses both the wind and the accretion gas flows. In a long series of spectroscopic monitoring of the star in 2013-2020, we detected variations in H-alpha and NaI D absorptions at radial velocities of infall (accretion) and outflow (wind) with a period of about 22 days. The absorptions in the infalling and the outflowing gas streams vary in anti-phase: an increase of infall is accompanied by a decrease of outflow, and vice versa. These flip-flop oscillations retain phase over several years of observations. We suggest that this may result from the MHD processes at the disk-magnetosphere boundary in the propeller mode. Another possibility is that a massive planet modulates some processes in the disc and provides the observed effects. The period, if Keplerian, corresponds to a distance of 0.2 AU, which is close to the dust sublimation radius in this star. The presence of the putative planet may be confirmed by radial velocity measurements: expected amplitude is > 90 m/s if a planet mass is > 2 Mj.
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