Ly-alpha propagation in the planet-forming region of a circumstellar disk

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Scientific paper

We propose using STIS to spectrally image the radial profile of resonantly scattered Lyman-alpha from the protoplanetary disk of TW Hya. Recent HST results have demonstrated that strong Lyman-alpha emission dominates the FUV radiation field of TW Hya. This has significant consequences for the chemical equilibrium of key species such as water within the planet-forming zone. Exploratory radiative transfer modeling predicts that the dominant Lyman-alpha component should resonantly scatter from the atomic layers of such disks at levels easily detectable with STIS. Using careful PSF subtraction, S/N ratios greater than 5 should be obtainable between 6-25AU from the central star. A detection of extended, resonantly scattered Lyman-alpha will reveal new information about the disk properties that cannot be obtained directly from other methods of observation. This includes constraining the morphology of the upper layers of the gas disk and possibly revealing the existence of a puffed-up inner disk. We will also be able to place limits on the Lyman-alpha flux driving chemistry in the disk interior.;

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