Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2003-06-04
Astron.Astrophys. 406 (2003) 703-708
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
5 pages; 3 figures; Accepted by Astronomy & Astrophysics
Scientific paper
10.1051/0004-6361:20030833
We present linear Halpha spectropolarimetry of the classical T Tauri star RY Tau. A change in the polarization percentage and position angle across Halpha is detected, which suggests that line photons are scattered in a rotating disc. We derive the position angle from the slope of the loop in the (Q,U) diagram and find it to be 146 +/- 3 degrees. This is perpendicular to the position angle of the disc of 48 +/- 5 degrees as deduced from submillimeter imaging by Koerner & Sargent (1995). This finding is consistent, as scattering off the imaged millimeter disc is expected to yield a polarization signature in a direction that is rotated by 90 degrees from this disc. The observed spectropolarimetric behaviour of RY Tau is reminiscent of that seen in a large group of Herbig Ae stars, suggesting a common circumstellar origin of the polarized photons.
Drew Janet E.
Harries Tim J.
Oudmaijer Rene D.
Unruh Yvonne C.
Vink Jorick S.
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