We present new ALMA 233 GHz continuum observations of the FU Orionis Object HBC722. With these data we detect HBC722 at millimeter wavelengths for the first time, use this detection to calculate a circumstellar disk mass of 0.024 solar masses, and discuss implications for the burst triggering mechanism.
We report the codiscovery of the spatially-resolved dust disk of the Vega-like star HR 4796A. Images of the thermal dust emission at $lambda = 18 mu$m show an elongated structure approximately 200 AU in diameter surrounding the central A0V star. The position angle of the disk, $30^{circ} pm 10^{circ}$, is consistent to the position angle of the M companion star, $225^{circ}$, suggesting that the disk-binary system is being seen nearly along its orbital plane. The surface brightness distribution of the disk is consistent with the presence of an inner disk hole of approximately 50 AU radius, as was originally suggested by Jura et al. on the basis of the infrared spectrum. HR 4796 is a unique system among the Vega-like or $beta$ Pictoris stars in that the M star companion (a weak-emission T Tauri star) shows that the system is relatively young, $sim 8 pm 3$ Myr. The inner disk hole may provide evidence for coagulation of dust into larger bodies on a timescale similar to that suggested for planet formation in the solar system.
We report identification of the first unambiguous example of what appears to be a new class of first-ascent giant stars that are actively accreting gas and dust and that are surrounded by substantial dusty disks. These old stars, who are nearing the end of their lives, are experiencing a rebirth into characteristics typically associated with newborn stars. The F2-type first-ascent giant star TYC 4144 329 2 is in a wide separation binary system with an otherwise normal G8 IV star, TYC 4144 329 1. From Keck near-infrared imaging and high-resolution spectroscopy we are able to determine that these two stars are $sim$1 Gyr old and reside at a distance of $sim$550 pc. One possible explanation for the origin of the accreting material is common-envelope interaction with a low-mass stellar or sub-stellar companion. The gaseous and dusty material around TYC 4144 329 2, as it is similar to the primordial disks observed around young classical T Tauri stars, could potentially give rise to a new generation of planets and/or planetesimals.
Disk winds have been postulated as a mechanism for angular momentum release in protostellar systems for decades. HD 163296 is a Herbig Ae star surrounded by a disk and has been shown to host a series of HH knots (HH 409) with bow shocks associated with the farthest knots. Here we present ALMA Science Verification data of CO J=2-1 and J=3-2 emission which are spatially coincident with the blue shifted jet of HH knots, and offset from the disk by -18.6 km/s. The emission has a double corkscrew morphology and extends more than 10 from the disk with embedded emission clumps coincident with jet knots. We interpret this double corkscrew as emission from material in a molecular disk wind, and that the compact emission near the jet knots is being heated by the jet which is moving at much higher velocities. We show that the J=3-2 emission is likely heavily filtered by the interferometer, but the J=2-1 emission suffers less due to the larger beam and measurable angular scales. Excitation analysis suggests temperatures exceeding 900 K in these compact features, with the wind mass, momentum and energy being of order 10^{-5} M_sun, 10^{-4} M_sun km/s and 10^{40} erg respectively. The high mass loss rate suggests that this star is dispersing the disk faster than it is funneling mass onto the star.
WL 17 is a young transition disk in the Ophiuchus L1688 molecular cloud complex. Even though WL 17 is among the brightest disks in L1688 and massive enough to expect dust self-scattering, it was undetected in polarization down to ALMAs instrument sensitivity limit. Such low polarization fractions could indicate unresolved polarization within the beam or optically thin dust emission. We test the latter case by combining the high sensitivity 233 GHz Stokes I data from the polarization observations with previous ALMA data at 345 GHz and 100 GHz. We use simple geometric shapes to fit the observed disk visibilities in each band. Using our simple models and assumed dust temperature profiles, we estimate the optical depth in all three bands. The optical depth at 233 GHz peaks at $tau_{233} sim 0.3$, which suggests the dust emission may not be optically thick enough for dust self-scattering to be efficient. We also find the higher sensitivity 233 GHz data show substructure in the disk for the first time. The substructure appears as brighter lobes along the major axis, on either side of the star. We attempt to fit the lobes with a simple geometric model, but they are unresolved in the 233 GHz data. We propose that the disk may be flared at 1 mm such that there is a higher column of dust along the major axis than the minor axis when viewed at an inclination. These observations highlight the strength of high sensitivity continuum data from dust polarization observations to study disk structures.
Protoplanetary disks are known to posses a stunning variety of substructure in the distribution of their mm~sized grains, predominantly seen as rings and gaps (Andrews et al. 2018), which are frequently interpreted as due to the shepherding of large grains by either hidden, still-forming planets within the disk (Zhang et al. 2018) or (magneto-)hydrodynamic instabilities (Flock et al. 2015). The velocity structure of the gas offers a unique probe of both the underlying mechanisms driving the evolution of the disk, the presence of embedded planets and characterising the transportation of material within the disk, such as following planet-building material from volatile-rich regions to the chemically-inert midplane, or detailing the required removal of angular momentum. Here we present the radial profiles of the three velocity components of gas in upper disk layers in the disk of HD 163296 as traced by 12CO molecular emission. These velocities reveal significant flows from the disk surface towards the midplane of disk at the radial locations of gaps argued to be opened by embedded planets (Isella et al. 2016, 2018, Teague et al. 2018, Pinte et al. 2018), bearing striking resemblance to meridional flows, long predicted to occur during the early stages of planet formation (Szulagyi et al. 2014, Morbidelli et al. 2014, Fung & Chiang 2016, Dong et al. 2019). In addition, a persistent radial outflow is seen at the outer edge of the disk, potentially the base of a wind associated with previously detected extended emission (Klaassen et al. 2013).