Temperature Structure of Protoplanetary Disks Undergoing Layered Accretion

Details Temperature Structure of Protoplanetary Disks Undergoing Layered Accretion Temperature Structure of Protoplanetary Disks Undergoing Layered Accretion

Publishing date

Oct 2011

URL

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2011apj...740..118l&link_type=abstract

Journals

The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 740, Issue 2, article id. 118 (2011).

Science

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Field

Astronomy

Additional info 2

1

Additional info 3

Accretion, Accretion Disks, Protoplanetary Disks, Radiative Transfer

Type

Scientific paper

Abstract

We calculate the temperature structures of protoplanetary disks (PPDs) around T Tauri stars heated by both incident starlight and viscous dissipation. We present a new algorithm for calculating the temperatures in disks in hydrostatic and radiative equilibrium, based on Rybicki's method for iteratively calculating the vertical temperature structure within an annulus. At each iteration, the method solves for the temperature at all locations simultaneously, and converges rapidly even at high (Gt104) optical depth. The method retains the full frequency dependence of the radiation field. We use this algorithm to study for the first time disks evolving via the magnetorotational instability. Because PPD midplanes are weakly ionized, this instability operates preferentially in their surface layers, and disks will undergo layered accretion. We find that the midplane temperatures T mid are strongly affected by the column density Σa of the active layers, even for fixed mass accretion rate \dot{M}. Models assuming uniform accretion predict midplane temperatures in the terrestrial planet forming region several × 102 K higher than our layered accretion models do. For \dot{M} < 10^{-7} \, M_{\odot } \, yr^{-1} and the column densities Σa < 10 g cm-2 associated with layered accretion, disk temperatures are indistinguishable from those of a passively heated disk. We find emergent spectra are insensitive to Σa, making it difficult to observationally identify disks undergoing layered versus uniform accretion.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Temperature Structure of Protoplanetary Disks Undergoing Layered Accretion 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 Temperature Structure of Protoplanetary Disks Undergoing Layered Accretion, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Temperature Structure of Protoplanetary Disks Undergoing Layered Accretion will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1815341