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Structure of Protoplanetary EnvironmentsOur research focused on the structure and composition of the disks in the T Tau and Haro 6-10 multiple star systems and on the nature of the 'infrared companions' that these systems contain. This work has resulted in two papers, one on T Tau, presently under review at the Astrophysical Journal, and the other, on Haro 6-10, about to be submitted to Astronomy and Astrophysics. In the paper 'Evidence for Extinction and Accretion Variability in T Tau S' by Tracy L. Beck, L. Prato, and M. Simon, we present angularly resolved spectra of T Tau N (the visible star) and T Tau S (the infrared companion, IRC) in the three micrometer water ice-feature and the K-band. Most of the water ice absorption lies along the line of sight to T Tau S, confirming it is seen through stronger obscuration. A decrease in the ice-band absorption toward T Tau S between 12/98 and 1/00, significant, at the two-sigma level, was associated with an increase in its near IR flux. Bracket gamma emission is detected in T Tau N and S, and H2 (2.12 micrometer) emission only toward T Tau S, consistent with previous studies of IRCs. Our results suggest that the near IR variability of T Tau S is probably caused by both variations in accretion rate and extinction. Our paper on Haro 6-10, 'The Near IR and Ice Band Variability of Haro, 6-10' by Ch. Leinert, T.L. Beck, S. Ligori, M. Simon, J. Woitas, and R.R. Howell, represents a fusion of originally independent efforts at the Max Planck Institut fur Astronomie (Heidelberg) and Stony Brook. Our combined observations demonstrate that both Haro 6-10 S (the visible star) and Haro 6-10 N (the IRC) vary significantly in near IR flux on time scales as short as a month. The substantial decrease of Haro 6-10 S in the last four years carries the photometric signature of increased extinction. However, a comparable K-band flux increase of the IRC is associated with a dimming at H so cannot be explained by lower extinction. Absorption in the 3.1 micrometer ice band was always greater toward the IRC during our observations indicating a large amount of obscuring material. We detect variable extinction in the ice-band toward Haro 6-10 S and the IRC, significant at the 3.5-sigma and 2.0-sigma levels, respectively.
Document ID
20010004109
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Other
Authors
Simon, Michal
(State Univ. of New York Stony Brook, NY United States)
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2000
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG5-8462
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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