CO J=6-5 observations of TW Hya with the SMA

Details CO J=6-5 observations of TW Hya with the SMA CO J=6-5 observations of TW Hya with the SMA

2005-12-05

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0512122v1

Astrophys.J.636:L157-L160,2006

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

14 pages, 3 figures. Accepted by ApJL on Dec. 5th, 2005

Scientific paper

10.1086/500241

We present the first images of the 691.473 GHz CO J=6-5 line in a protoplanetary disk, obtained along with the 690 GHz dust continuum, toward the classical T Tauri star TW Hya using the Submillimeter Array. Imaging in the CO J=6-5 line reveals a rotating disk, consistent with previous observations of CO J=3-2 and 2-1 lines. Using an irradiated accretion disk model and 2D Monte Carlo radiative transfer, we find that additional surface heating is needed to fit simultaneously the absolute and relative intensities of the CO J=6-5, 3-2 and 2-1 lines. In particular, the vertical gas temperature gradient in the disk must be steeper than that of the dust, mostly likely because the CO emission lines probe nearer to the surface of the disk. We have used an idealized X-ray heating model to fit the line profiles of CO J=2-1 and 3-2 with Chi-square analysis, and the prediction of this model yields CO J=6-5 emission consistent with the observations.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

CO J=6-5 observations of TW Hya with the SMA does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with CO J=6-5 observations of TW Hya with the SMA, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and CO J=6-5 observations of TW Hya with the SMA will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-86530