arXiv subjects

Caeley V. Pittman

Publications and source records attributed to Caeley V. Pittman.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Exoplanet System Architecture: Sculpting the Inner Regions

In this study, we seek to improve our understanding of the competing roles of disk-driven and planet-planet dynamical migration in sculpting planetary system architecture in the inner $\lesssim 1.5$ au of protoplanetary disks. Over a range of host star masses, we compare the orbit semimajor axis values of transiting multi-planet and resonant systems to observationally-derived estimates of protoplanetary disk inner truncation radius $R_{i}$, corotation radius $R_{co}$, and dust sublimation radius $R_{dust}$. We find that disk-driven migration is primarily responsible for setting the inner edge of planetary systems near $R_{co}$ and that subsequent dynamical migration shapes the distribution of planetary semimajor axis values over the range $\approx 20-300$ $R_{\star}$. If multi-planet systems form in a way similar to the resonant chain systems, either a zone of highly efficient planet formation at $\gtrsim 100 R_{\star}$, followed by subsequent disk-driven migration, is implied, or a modified in-situ mechanism operating over a region from $\simeq 15-100 R_{\star}$ and incorporating disk-driven migration is needed. There are indications that after disk dispersal, dynamical migration causes a subset of planets to migrate to locations inside $R_{co}$.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2025

IPA. Accretion rate of a low-mass Class 0 protostar, measured via mid-infrared fluorescent OH emission

The earliest stages of star formation are highlighted by complex interactions between accretion, outflow, and radiative processes, which shape the chemical and physical environment of the emerging protostar. James Webb Space Telescope observations of the low-mass, low-luminosity Class 0 protostar IRAS 16253-2429 reveal a central compact source. This object exhibits a rich mid-infrared emission spectrum of OH pure rotational lines and $\rm CO_2$ ro-vibrational lines. Unusually for a young stellar object, it has no mid-infrared line emission from $\rm H_2O$ to match the other molecules. We demonstrate that the emitting OH molecules arise from UV photodissociation of $\rm H_2O$ in its second absorption band at $λ= 114-145$ nm, and that the OH emission is a fluorescent cascade starting with highest-excitation rotational states. This situation offers the opportunity of using the infrared OH spectrum to measure the UV flux from the central protostar. Thereby we determine the disk-star accretion rate to be $3 \times 10^{-10} \ M_\sun \ {\rm year^{-1}}$, and demonstrate that the system luminosity arises mostly from the protostar's photosphere rather than from accretion luminosity. The result is in accord with the measured outflow rate of IRAS 16253-2429 and lies within the outflow/accretion-flow rate trend often inferred for protostars; and with episodic accretion as the dominant mechanism by which this protostar has grown.

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arXiv2025

The ODYSSEUS Survey. Spatial correlation of magnetospheric inclinations points to parsec-scale star-cloud connection

The properties of stars and planets are shaped by the initial conditions of their natal clouds. However, the spatial scales over which the initial conditions can exert a significant influence are not well constrained. We report the first evidence for parsec-scale spatial correlations of stellar magnetospheric inclinations ($i_{\rm mag}$), observed in the Lupus low-mass star forming region. Applying consensus clustering with a hierarchical density-based clustering algorithm, we demonstrate that the detected spatial dependencies are stable against perturbations by measurement uncertainties. The $i_{\rm mag}$ correlation scales are on the order of ~3 pc, which aligns with the typical scales of the Lupus molecular cloud filaments. Our results reveal a connection between large-scale forces -- in the form of expanding shells from the Upper Scorpius and Upper-Centaurus-Lupus regions -- and sub-au scale system configurations. We find that Lupus has a non-uniform $i_{\rm mag}$ distribution and suggest that this results from the preferential elongation of protostellar cores along filamentary axes. Non-uniformity would have significant implications for exoplanet occurrence rate calculations, so future work should explore the longevity of these biases driven by the star-cloud connection.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2025

The ODYSSEUS Survey. Using accretion and stellar rotation to reveal the star-disk connection in T Tauri stars

Classical T Tauri stars (CTTS) exhibit strong variability over timescales of minutes to decades. However, much theoretical work assumes that CTTS are in stable spin states. Here, we test expectations for CTTS angular momentum regulation by comparing star and disk rotation. We measure stellar rotation periods and disk corotation radii ($R_{\rm co}$) for 47 CTTS from the HST ULLYSES sample. We compare $R_{\rm co}$ to the magnetospheric truncation radii ($R_{\rm i}$) and show that most CTTS are in the spin-up regime based on model predictions, which may indicate efficient angular momentum loss processes. We find evidence of magnetospheric outflows and episodic accretion, and our observations are consistent with the presence of accretion-powered stellar winds. We confirm predictions that $R_{\rm i}$ is variable over timescales of days, causing some CTTS to cross accretion stability regime boundaries. We characterize light curve morphologies and confirm that our inclined CTTS with $R_{\rm i}\sim R_{\rm co}$ show dipper light curves, consistent with expectations from disk warp models. However, dippers occur at all values of $R_{\rm i}/R_{\rm co}$, suggesting that they do not need to be near the propeller regime. Finally, we show that our measured $R_{\rm i}$ locations are consistent with observed ultra-short-period planet (USP) semi-major axes. If USPs are stable against tidal dissipation, as has been suggested in the literature, then our work provides a plausible USP formation channel. These results show that the star-disk connection produces a large variety of accretion and stellar spin configurations, most of which are likely not in equilibrium.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2025

The ODYSSEUS Survey. Characterizing magnetospheric geometries and hotspot structures in T Tauri stars

Magnetospheric accretion is a key process that shapes the inner disks of T Tauri stars, controlling mass and angular momentum evolution. It produces strong ultraviolet and optical emission that irradiates the planet-forming environment. In this work, we characterize the magnetospheric geometries, accretion rates, extinction properties, and hotspot structures of 67 T Tauri stars in the largest and most consistent study of ultraviolet and optical accretion signatures to date. To do so, we apply an accretion flow model to velocity-resolved H$α$ profiles for T Tauri stars from the HST/ULLYSES program with consistently-derived stellar parameters. We find typical magnetospheric truncation radii to be almost half of the usually-assumed value of 5 stellar radii. We then model the same stars' HST/STIS spectra with an accretion shock model, finding a diverse range of hotspot structures. Phase-folding multi-epoch shock models reveals rotational modulation of observed hotspot energy flux densities, indicative of hotspots that persist for at least 3 stellar rotation periods. For the first time, we perform a large-scale, self-consistent comparison of accretion rates measured using accretion flow and shock models, finding them to be consistent within $\sim$0.16 dex for contemporaneous observations. Finally, we find that up to 50% of the total accretion luminosity is at short wavelengths accessible only from space, highlighting the crucial role of ultraviolet spectra in constraining accretion spectral energy distributions, hotspot structure, and extinction.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2024

A Multi-wavelength, Multi-epoch Monitoring Campaign of Accretion Variability in T Tauri Stars from the ODYSSEUS Survey. III. Optical Spectra

Classical T Tauri Stars (CTTSs) are highly variable stars that possess gas- and dust-rich disks from which planets form. Much of their variability is driven by mass accretion from the surrounding disk, a process that is still not entirely understood. A multi-epoch optical spectral monitoring campaign of four CTTSs (TW Hya, RU Lup, BP Tau, and GM Aur) was conducted along with contemporaneous HST UV spectra and ground-based photometry in an effort to determine accretion characteristics and gauge variability in this sample. Using an accretion flow model, we find that the magnetospheric truncation radius varies between 2.5-5 R* across all of our observations. There is also significant variability in all emission lines studied, particularly Halpha, Hbeta, and Hgamma. Using previously established relationships between line luminosity and accretion, we find that, on average, most lines reproduce accretion rates consistent with accretion shock modeling of HST spectra to within 0.5 dex. Looking at individual contemporaneous observations, however, these relationships are less accurate, suggesting that variability trends differ from the trends of the population and that these empirical relationships should be used with caution in studies of variability.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2024

A Multi-wavelength, Multi-epoch Monitoring Campaign of Accretion Variability in T Tauri Stars from the ODYSSEUS Survey. I. HST FUV and NUV Spectra

The Classical T Tauri Star (CTTS) stage is a critical phase of the star and planet formation process. In an effort to better understand the mass accretion process, which can dictate further stellar evolution and planet formation, a multi-epoch, multi-wavelength photometric and spectroscopic monitoring campaign of four CTTSs (TW Hya, RU Lup, BP Tau, and GM Aur) was carried out in 2021 and 2022/2023 as part of the Outflows and Disks Around Young Stars: Synergies for the Exploration of ULYSSES Spectra (ODYSSEUS) program. Here we focus on the HST UV spectra obtained by the HST Director's Discretionary Time UV Legacy Library of Young Stars as Essential Standards (ULLYSES) program. Using accretion shock modeling, we find that all targets exhibit accretion variability, varying from short increases in accretion rate by up to a factor of 3 within 48 hours, to longer decreases in accretion rate by a factor of 2.5 over the course of 1 year. This is despite the generally consistent accretion morphology within each target. Additionally, we test empirical relationships between accretion rate and UV luminosity and find stark differences, showing that these relationships should not be used to estimate the accretion rate for individual target. Our work reinforces that future multi-epoch and simultaneous multi-wavelength studies are critical in our understanding of the accretion process in low-mass star formation.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2024

A Multi-wavelength, Multi-epoch Monitoring Campaign of Accretion Variability in T Tauri Stars from the ODYSSEUS Survey. II. Photometric Light Curves

Classical T Tauri Stars (CTTSs) are young, low-mass stars which accrete material from their surrounding protoplanetary disk. To better understand accretion variability, we conducted a multi-epoch, multi-wavelength photometric monitoring campaign of four CTTSs: TW Hya, RU Lup, BP Tau, and GM Aur, in 2021 and 2022, contemporaneous with HST UV and optical spectra. We find that all four targets display significant variability in their light curves, generally on days-long timescales (but in some cases year-to-year) often due to periodicity associated with stellar rotation and to stochastic accretion variability. Their is a strong connection between mass accretion and photometric variability in all bands, but the relationship varies per target and epoch. Thus, photometry should be used with caution as a direct measure of accretion in CTTSs.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2022

Towards a comprehensive view of accretion, inner disks, and extinction in classical T Tauri stars: an ODYSSEUS study of the Orion OB1b association

The coevolution of T Tauri stars and their surrounding protoplanetary disks dictates the timescales of planet formation. In this paper, we present magnetospheric accretion and inner disk wall model fits to NUV-NIR spectra of nine classical T Tauri stars in Orion OB1b as part of the Outflows and Disks around Young Stars: Synergies for the Exploration of ULLYSES Spectra (ODYSSEUS) Survey. Using NUV-optical spectra from the Hubble UV Legacy Library of Young Stars as Essential Standards (ULLYSES) Director's Discretionary Program and optical-NIR spectra from the PENELLOPE VLT Large Programme, we find that the accretion rates of these targets are relatively high for the region's intermediate age of 5.0 Myr; rates range from $0.5-17.2 \times 10^{-8}$ M$_{\odot}$/yr, with a median value of $1.2\times 10^{-8}$ M$_{\odot}$/yr. The NIR excesses can be fit with 1200-1800 K inner disk walls located at 0.05-0.10 AU from the host stars. We discuss the significance of the choice in extinction law, as the measured accretion rate depends strongly on the adopted extinction value. This analysis will be extended to the complete sample of T Tauri stars being observed through ULLYSES to characterize accretion and inner disks in star-forming regions of different ages and stellar populations.

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