Protoplanetary Disk Structures in Ophiuchus

Details Protoplanetary Disk Structures in Ophiuchus Protoplanetary Disk Structures in Ophiuchus

2009-06-03

arxiv.org/abs/0906.0730v1

Astrophys.J.700:1502-1523,2009

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

Earth and Planetary Astrophysics

ApJ in press: 51 pages, 13 figures

Scientific paper

10.1088/0004-637X/700/2/1502

We present a high angular resolution (0.3" = 40 AU) SMA survey of the 870 micron thermal continuum emission from 9 of the brightest, and therefore most massive, circumstellar disks in the ~1 Myr-old Ophiuchus star-forming region. Using 2-D radiative transfer calculations, we simultaneously fit the observed continuum visibilities and broadband spectral energy distribution for each disk with a parametric structure model. Compared to previous millimeter studies, this survey includes significant upgrades in modeling, data quality, and angular resolution that provide improved constraints on key structure parameters, particularly those that characterize the spatial distribution of mass in the disks. In the context of a surface density profile motivated by similarity solutions for viscous accretion disks, the best-fit models for the sample disks have characteristic radii R_c = 20-200 AU, high disk masses M_d = 0.005-0.14 M_sun, and a narrow range of radial surface density gradients around a median $\gamma$ = 0.9. These density structures are used in conjunction with accretion rate estimates from the literature to help characterize the viscous evolution of the disk material. Using the standard prescription for disk viscosities, those combined constraints indicate that $\alpha$ = 0.0005-0.08. Three of the sample disks show large (R = 20-40 AU) central cavities in their continuum emission morphologies, marking extensive zones where dust has been physically removed and/or has significantly diminished opacities. Based on the current requirements of planet formation models, these emission cavities and the structure constraints for the sample as a whole suggest that these young disks may eventually produce planetary systems, and have perhaps already started. (abridged)

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Protoplanetary Disk Structures in Ophiuchus 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 Protoplanetary Disk Structures in Ophiuchus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Protoplanetary Disk Structures in Ophiuchus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-194191