High Resolution HST-STIS Spectra of CI and CO in the Beta Pictoris Circumstellar Disk

Details High Resolution HST-STIS Spectra of CI and CO in the Beta Pictoris Circumstellar Disk High Resolution HST-STIS Spectra of CI and CO in the Beta Pictoris Circumstellar Disk

2000-03-30

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0003446v1

Roberge et al. 2000, ApJ, 538, 904

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

13 pages, including 6 figures. LaTex2e (emulateapj5.sty). Accepted for publication in ApJ

Scientific paper

10.1086/309157

High resolution FUV echelle spectra showing absorption features arising from CI and CO gas in the Beta Pictoris circumstellar (CS) disk were obtained on 1997 December 6 and 19 using the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS). An unsaturated spin-forbidden line of CI at 1613.376 A not previously seen in spectra of Beta Pictoris was detected, allowing for an improved determination of the column density of CI at zero velocity relative to the star (the stable component), N = (2-4) x 10^{16} cm^{-2}. Variable components with multiple velocities, which are the signatures of infalling bodies in the Beta Pictoris CS disk, are observed in the CI 1561 A and 1657 A multiplets. Also seen for the first time were two lines arising from the metastable singlet D level of carbon, at 1931 A and 1463 A The results of analysis of the CO A-X (0-0), (1-0), and (2-0) bands are presented, including the bands arising from {13}^CO, with much better precision than has previously been possible, due to the very high resolution provided by the STIS echelle gratings. Only stable CO gas is observed, with a column density N(CO) = (6.3 +/- 0.3) x 10^{14} cm{-2}. An unusual ratio of the column densities of {12}^CO to {13}^CO is found (R = 15 +/- 2). The large difference between the column densities of CI and CO indicates that photodissociation of CO is not the primary source of CI gas in the disk, contrary to previous suggestion.

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