Physics
Scientific paper
Sep 2004
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2004sptz.prop.3501r&link_type=abstract
Spitzer Proposal ID #3501
Physics
Scientific paper
The relationship between planet formation and circumstellar disks around young stars is likely to be an area that Spitzer observations will have a dramatic impact. Excellent sensitivity will enable detections of even the faintest infrared excesses from dusty disks. Arguably, the most famous dusty disk system is beta Pictoris, which has a strong infrared dust signature, but also shows variability in high resolution absorption spectra of Ca II and Na I. These short term variations are attributed to star-grazing cometary-like objects, or Faint Evaporating Bodies (FEBs). Unfortunately, circumstellar absorption features in optical spectra are only detected toward disks with edge-on orientations. However, uniting both the infrared photometry and optical spectra proved to be a powerful technique in developing a more complete understanding of beta Pic's circumstellar environment. Therefore, we propose Spitzer observations of four nearby stars that show similar gas disk signatures in high resolution optical spectra, and yet due to relatively poor sensitivity, IRAS detected only faint or marginal infrared excesses. We propose to utilize all of Spitzer's instruments to measure the fundamental physical properties of the circumstellar gas and dust. IRAC and MIPS observations will provide precise photometry to reconstruct the infrared spectral energy distribution in order to measure the size, density, and composition of the dusty disk. High resolution IRS observations should show features caused by crystalline silicates, such as forsterite, which are commonly observed in comets, a direct link with the FEBs that are causing the optical spectral variability. In addition to the Spitzer observations, we will monitor the Ca II and Na I variability in ultra-high resolution spectra obtained from McDonald Observatory. Together, these observations will probe the relationship between the gas and dust components of circumstellar disks, and provide important constraints on models of disk evolution and planet formation.
Harvey Paul
Kessler-Silacci Jacqueline
Redfield Seth
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