Other
Scientific paper
May 2006
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2006sptz.prop30381o&link_type=abstract
Spitzer Proposal ID #30381
Other
Scientific paper
Even though we do not yet fully understand the formula for planet formation, we know where to find the ingredients: in circumstellar disks around young low-mass stars. It is now believed that most solar mass stars form in OB associations. We propose to perform IRS spectroscopy of a sample of classical T Tauri stars (CTTS, pre-main-sequence stars with disks) in the 3-5 Myr-old Sigma Orionis OB association. Pre-main-sequence objects have been identified in this region down to substellar masses. Our previous ground-based observations unveiled a rich variety of intriguing objects (e.g. "old" jet and "proplyd" sources) some of them with unusual mineralogy (a tentative identification of self-absorbed forsterite in IRAS 05358-0238) providing a tantalizing hint that the environment can play a strong role in the disks' mineralogy evolution. Our Spitzer IRS sample includes the brightest cluster members that have been found to possess disks (mass range 0.4-1.5 solar masses), 4 irradiated jet sources and 1 proplyd-candidate source. In their spectra, we will identify bands due to amorphous and crystalline silicates and we will model the spectra to determine to what extent crystallisation and coagulation has taken place, and correlate this with stellar mass. We will investigate whether molecular hydrogen (and other gas-phase) emission lines and PAH emission band are present in the spectra of the irradiated jets and proplyd-candidate sources, to probe the extreme environments surrounding these objects. Our proposed observations will allow us to understand the nature and evolutionary status of these unusual objects. By comparison with observations of more quiescent environments that are part of Legacy programs, we will assess the disruptive influence of the massive O-star sigma Orionis. This will shed light on the processes that take place in the most abundant breeding grounds for planets and our Solar system.
Bouwman Jeroen
Jeffries Rob
Oliveira Joana
van den Ancker Mario
Van Loon Jacco
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