Evidence for dynamical changes in a transitional protoplanetary disk with mid-infrared variability

James Muzerolle; Kevin Flaherty; Zoltan Balog; Elise Furlan; Paul S. Smith; Lori Allen; Nuria Calvet; Paola D'Alessio; S. Thomas Megeath; August Muench; George H. Rieke; William H. Sherry

doi:10.1088/0004-637X/704/1/L15

Evidence for dynamical changes in a transitional protoplanetary disk with mid-infrared variability

James Muzerolle, Kevin Flaherty, Zoltan Balog, Elise Furlan, Paul S. Smith, Lori Allen, Nuria Calvet, Paola D'Alessio, S. Thomas Megeath, August Muench, George H. Rieke, William H. Sherry

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

74 Scopus citations

Abstract

We present multi-epoch Spitzer Space Telescope observations of the transitional disk LRLL 31 in the 2-3 Myr old star-forming region IC 348. Our measurements show remarkable mid-infrared variability on timescales as short as one week. The infrared continuum emission exhibits systematic wavelength-dependent changes that suggest corresponding dynamical changes in the inner disk structure and variable shadowing of outer disk material. We propose several possible sources for the structural changes, including a variable accretion rate or a stellar or planetary companion embedded in the disk. Our results indicate that variability studies in the infrared can provide important new constraints on protoplanetary disk behavior.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	L15-L19
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	704
Issue number	1 PART 2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/704/1/L15
State	Published - 2009

Keywords

Accretion, accretion disks
Planetary systems: protoplanetary disks
Stars: pre-main sequence

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

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10.1088/0004-637X/704/1/L15

Cite this

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title = "Evidence for dynamical changes in a transitional protoplanetary disk with mid-infrared variability",

abstract = "We present multi-epoch Spitzer Space Telescope observations of the transitional disk LRLL 31 in the 2-3 Myr old star-forming region IC 348. Our measurements show remarkable mid-infrared variability on timescales as short as one week. The infrared continuum emission exhibits systematic wavelength-dependent changes that suggest corresponding dynamical changes in the inner disk structure and variable shadowing of outer disk material. We propose several possible sources for the structural changes, including a variable accretion rate or a stellar or planetary companion embedded in the disk. Our results indicate that variability studies in the infrared can provide important new constraints on protoplanetary disk behavior.",

keywords = "Accretion, accretion disks, Planetary systems: protoplanetary disks, Stars: pre-main sequence",

author = "James Muzerolle and Kevin Flaherty and Zoltan Balog and Elise Furlan and Smith, {Paul S.} and Lori Allen and Nuria Calvet and Paola D'Alessio and Megeath, {S. Thomas} and August Muench and Rieke, {George H.} and Sherry, {William H.}",

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doi = "10.1088/0004-637X/704/1/L15",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "704",

pages = "L15--L19",

journal = "Astrophysical Journal",

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number = "1 PART 2",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Evidence for dynamical changes in a transitional protoplanetary disk with mid-infrared variability

AU - Muzerolle, James

AU - Flaherty, Kevin

AU - Balog, Zoltan

AU - Furlan, Elise

AU - Smith, Paul S.

AU - Allen, Lori

AU - Calvet, Nuria

AU - D'Alessio, Paola

AU - Megeath, S. Thomas

AU - Muench, August

AU - Rieke, George H.

AU - Sherry, William H.

PY - 2009

Y1 - 2009

N2 - We present multi-epoch Spitzer Space Telescope observations of the transitional disk LRLL 31 in the 2-3 Myr old star-forming region IC 348. Our measurements show remarkable mid-infrared variability on timescales as short as one week. The infrared continuum emission exhibits systematic wavelength-dependent changes that suggest corresponding dynamical changes in the inner disk structure and variable shadowing of outer disk material. We propose several possible sources for the structural changes, including a variable accretion rate or a stellar or planetary companion embedded in the disk. Our results indicate that variability studies in the infrared can provide important new constraints on protoplanetary disk behavior.

AB - We present multi-epoch Spitzer Space Telescope observations of the transitional disk LRLL 31 in the 2-3 Myr old star-forming region IC 348. Our measurements show remarkable mid-infrared variability on timescales as short as one week. The infrared continuum emission exhibits systematic wavelength-dependent changes that suggest corresponding dynamical changes in the inner disk structure and variable shadowing of outer disk material. We propose several possible sources for the structural changes, including a variable accretion rate or a stellar or planetary companion embedded in the disk. Our results indicate that variability studies in the infrared can provide important new constraints on protoplanetary disk behavior.

KW - Accretion, accretion disks

KW - Planetary systems: protoplanetary disks

KW - Stars: pre-main sequence

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DO - 10.1088/0004-637X/704/1/L15

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SN - 0004-637X

VL - 704

SP - L15-L19

JO - Astrophysical Journal

JF - Astrophysical Journal

IS - 1 PART 2

ER -

Evidence for dynamical changes in a transitional protoplanetary disk with mid-infrared variability

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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