The FUV Flux Irradiating the Surfaces of Protostellar Disks

Details The FUV Flux Irradiating the Surfaces of Protostellar Disks The FUV Flux Irradiating the Surfaces of Protostellar Disks

Jul 2002

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2002hst..prop.9374b&link_type=abstract

HST Proposal ID #9374

Physics

Hst Proposal Id #9374

Scientific paper

We propose to use STIS to determine the Far-Ultraviolet {FUV} radiation field in 3 proto-planetary disk systems. These systems: LkCa 15, GM Aur, and DM Tau, are among a handful of sources that can be subjected to detailed chemical studies with the current generation of millimeter-wave instruments. Such studies have found that the disks have a rich molecular chemistry, which appears to be controlled by the FUV radiation field {Qi 2001; Dutrey et al 1997; Kastner et al 1997}. These observations will allow, for the first time, a firm characterization of the FUV radiation field impinging on the surfaces of circumstellar disks. Knowledge of the FUV field for each object will allow for theoretical chemical models to be created specific to each object and compared to observations. Since these objects will remain, for some time, the main templates for chemical studies of extra-solar disks this project will provide the real UV data required to push theory forward. Given that molecules are excellent probes of their environment, the new information will place better constraints on the virtually unknown vertical structure of proto-planetary disks. This project is unique in scope and will increase our limited understanding of disk chemical evolution, but also improve our knowledge of uncertain physical processes, such as the possible dissipation of outer disks by photo-evaporation and on the timescales of dust grain growth.

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