Welcome to the new version of CaltechAUTHORS. Login is currently restricted to library staff. If you notice any issues, please email coda@library.caltech.edu
Published November 20, 1997 | Published
Journal Article Open

Spectral Energy Distributions of T Tauri Stars with Passive Circumstellar Disks

Abstract

We derive hydrostatic, radiative equilibrium models for passive disks surrounding T Tauri stars. Each disk is encased by an optically thin layer of superheated dust grains. This layer reemits directly to space about half the stellar energy it absorbs. The other half is emitted inward and regulates the interior temperature of the disk. The heated disk flares. As a consequence, it absorbs more stellar radiation, especially at large radii, than a flat disk would. The portion of the spectral energy distribution contributed by the disk is fairly flat throughout the thermal infrared. At fixed frequency, the contribution from the surface layer exceeds that from the interior by about a factor 3 and is emitted at more than an order of magnitude greater radius. Spectral features from dust grains in the superheated layer appear in emission if the disk is viewed nearly face-on.

Additional Information

© 1997 American Astronomical Society. Received 1997 March 18; accepted 1997 July 3. We thank Anneila Sargent for providing the data on GM Aur and other T Tauri stars, Shri Kulkarni for suggesting that temporal variability of disk emission can provide a further means of probing disk characteristics, Dave Koerner and Karl Stapelfeldt for informative discussions regarding GM Aur, and Steve Beckwith for a thorough and thoughtful referee's report. Financial support for this research was provided by NSF grant 94-14232. E. C. acknowledges support from an NSF Graduate Fellowship.

Attached Files

Published - 0004-637X_490_1_368.pdf

Files

0004-637X_490_1_368.pdf
Files (340.5 kB)
Name Size Download all
md5:696c6711aaf542bcc1e5ac07fb70e847
340.5 kB Preview Download

Additional details

Created:
September 14, 2023
Modified:
October 23, 2023