Orbital motion in T Tauri binary systems

Details Orbital motion in T Tauri binary systems Orbital motion in T Tauri binary systems

2001-01-25

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0101450v1

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

Accepted by Astronomy and Astrophysics

Scientific paper

10.1051/0004-6361:20010135

Using speckle-interferometry we have carried out repeated measurements of relative positions for the components of 34 T Tauri binary systems. The projected separation of these components is low enough that orbital motion is expected to be observable within a few years. In most cases orbital motion has indeed been detected. The observational data is discussed in a manner similar to Ghez et al. (1995). However, we extend their study to a larger number of objects and a much longer timespan. The database presented in this paper is valuable for future visible orbit determinations. It will yield empirical masses for T Tauri stars that now are only poorly known. The available data is however not sufficient to do this at the present time. Instead, we use short series of orbital data and statistical distributions of orbital parameters to derive an average system mass that is independent of theoretical assumptions about the physics of PMS stars. For our sample this mass is 2.0 solar masses and thus in the order of magnitude one expects for the mass sum of two T Tauri stars. It is also comparable to mass estimates obtained for the same systems using theoretical PMS evolutionary models.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Orbital motion in T Tauri binary systems 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 Orbital motion in T Tauri binary systems, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Orbital motion in T Tauri binary systems will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-64336