On the Transitional Disk Class: Linking Observations of T Tauri Stars & Physical Disk Models

Details On the Transitional Disk Class: Linking Observations of T Tauri Stars & Physical Disk Models On the Transitional Disk Class: Linking Observations of T Tauri Stars & Physical Disk Models

2012-01-06

arxiv.org/abs/1201.1518v1

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

Solar and Stellar Astrophysics

accepted to ApJ

Scientific paper

Two decades ago "transitional disks" described spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of T Tauri stars with small near-IR excesses, but significant mid- and far-IR excesses. Many inferred this indicated dust-free holes in disks, possibly cleared by planets. Recently, this term has been applied disparately to objects whose Spitzer SEDs diverge from the expectations for a typical full disk. Here we use irradiated accretion disk models to fit the SEDs of 15 such disks in NGC 2068 and IC 348. One group has a "dip" in infrared emission while the others' continuum emission decreases steadily at all wavelengths. We find that the former have an inner disk hole or gap at intermediate radii in the disk and we call these objects "transitional" and pre-transitional" disks, respectively. For the latter group, we can fit these SEDs with full disk models and find that millimeter data are necessary to break the degeneracy between dust settling and disk mass. We suggest the term "transitional" only be applied to objects that display evidence for a radical change in the disk's radial structure. Using this definition, we find that transitional and pre-transitional disks tend to have lower mass accretion rates than full disks and that transitional disks have lower accretion rates than pre-transitional disks. These reduced accretion rates onto the star could be linked to forming planets. Future observations of transitional and pre-transitional disks will allow us to better quantify the signatures of planet formation in young disks.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

On the Transitional Disk Class: Linking Observations of T Tauri Stars & Physical Disk Models 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 On the Transitional Disk Class: Linking Observations of T Tauri Stars & Physical Disk Models, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and On the Transitional Disk Class: Linking Observations of T Tauri Stars & Physical Disk Models will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-634684