arXiv subjects

G. Meeus

Publications and source records attributed to G. Meeus.

67 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv2009

The Long-Lived Disks in the Eta Chamaeleontis Cluster

We present IRS spectra and revised MIPS photometry for the 18 members of the Eta Chamaeleontis cluster. Aged 8 Myr, the Eta Cha cluster is one of the few nearby regions within the 5-10 Myr age range, during which the disk fraction decreases dramatically and giant planet formation must come to an end. For the 15 low-mass members, we measure a disk fraction ~50%, high for their 8 Myr age, and 4 of the 8 disks lack near-IR excesses, consistent with the empirical definition of "transition'' disks. Most of the disks are comparable to geometrically flat disks. The comparison with regions of different ages suggests that at least some of the "transition" disks may represent the normal type of disk around low-mass stars. Therefore, their flattened structure and inner holes may be related to other factors (initial masses of the disk and the star, environment, binarity), rather than to pure time evolution. We analyze the silicate dust in the disk atmosphere, finding moderate crystalline fractions (~10-30%) and typical grain sizes ~1-3 micron, without any characteristic trend in the composition. These results are common to other regions of different ages, suggesting that the initial grain processing occurs very early in the disk lifetime (<1 Myr). Large grain sizes in the disk atmosphere cannot be used as a proxy for age, but are likely related to higher disk turbulence. The dust mineralogy varies between the 8-12micron and the 20-30 micron features, suggesting high temperature dust processing and little radial mixing. Finally, the analysis of IR and optical data on the B9 star Eta Cha reveals that it is probably surrounded by a young debris disk with a large inner hole, instead of being a classical Be star.

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arXiv2009

Mid-IR observations of circumstellar disks -- Part III: A mixed sample of PMS stars and Vega-type objects

We present new mid-infrared spectra for a sample of 15 targets (1 FU Orionis object, 4 Herbig Ae stars, 5 T Tauri stars and 5 Vega type stars), obtained with the TIMMI2 camera at La Silla Observatory (ESO). Three targets are members of the beta Pic moving group (HD 155555, HD 181296 and HD 319139). PAH bands are observed towards the T Tauri star HD 34700 and the Herbig Ae star PDS 144 N. For HD 34700, the band profiles indicate processed PAHs. The spectrum of the Vega-type object eta Corvi (HD 109085), for which a resolved disk at sub-mm wavelengths is known, is entirely stellar between 8--13 micron. Similarly, no indication for circumstellar matter at mid-infrared wavelengths is found towards the Vega-like stars HD 3003, HD 80951, HD 181296 and, surprisingly, the T Tauri system HD 155555. The silicate emission features of the remaining eight sources are modelled with a mixture of silicates of different grain sizes and composition. Unprocessed dust dominates FU Ori, HD 143006 and CD-43 344. Large amorphous grains are the main dust component around HD 190073, HD 319139, KK Oph and PDS 144 S. Both small grains and crystalline dust is found for the Vega-type HD 123356, with a dominance of small amorphous grains. We show that the infrared emission of the binary HD 123356 is dominated by its late-type secondary, but optical spectroscopy is still required to confirm the age of the system and the spectral class of the companion. For most targets this is their first mid-infrared spectroscopic observation. We investigate trends between stellar, disk and silicate properties and confirm correlations of previous studies. Several objects present an exciting potential for follow-up high-resolution disk studies.

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arXiv2009

HD 100453: A Link Between Gas-Rich Protoplanetary Disks and Gas-Poor Debris Disks

HD 100453 has an IR spectral energy distribution (SED) which can be fit with a power-law plus a blackbody. Previous analysis of the SED suggests that the system is a young Herbig Ae star with a gas-rich, flared disk. We reexamine the evolutionary state of the HD 100453 system by refining its age (based on a candidate low-mass companion) and by examining limits on the disk extent, mass accretion rate, and gas content of the disk environment. We confirm that HD 100453B is a common proper motion companion to HD 100453A, with a spectral type of M4.0V - M4.5V, and derive an age of 10 +/- 2 Myr. We find no evidence of mass accretion onto the star. Chandra ACIS-S imagery shows that the Herbig Ae star has L_X/L_Bol and an X-ray spectrum similar to non-accreting Beta Pic Moving Group early F stars. Moreover, the disk lacks the conspicuous Fe II emission and excess FUV continuum seen in spectra of actively accreting Herbig Ae stars, and from the FUV continuum, we find the accretion rate is < 1.4x10^-9 M_Sun yr^-1. A sensitive upper limit to the CO J = 3-2 intensity indicates that the gas in the outer disk is likely optically thin. Assuming a [CO]/[H2] abundance of 1x10^-4 and a depletion factor of 10^3, we find that the mass of cold molecular gas is less than ~0.33 M_J and that the gas-to-dust ratio is no more than ~4:1 in the outer disk. The combination of a high fractional IR excess luminosity, a relatively old age, an absence of accretion signatures, and an absence of detectable circumstellar molecular gas suggests that the HD 100453 system is in an unusual state of evolution between a gas-rich protoplanetary disk and a gas-poor debris disk.

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arXiv2009

MBM 12: young protoplanetary discs at high galactic latitude

(abridged) We present Spitzer infrared observations to constrain disc and dust evolution in young T Tauri stars in MBM 12, a star-forming cloud at high latitude with an age of 2 Myr and a distance of 275 pc. The region contains 12 T Tauri systems, with primary spectral types between K3 and M6; 5 are weak-line and the rest classical T Tauri stars. We first use MIPS and literature photometry to compile spectral energy distributions for each of the 12 members in MBM 12, and derive their IR excesses. The IRS spectra are analysed with the newly developed two-layer temperature distribution (TLTD) spectral decomposition method. For the 7 T Tauri stars with a detected IR excess, we analyse their solid-state features to derive dust properties such as mass-averaged grain size, composition and crystallinity. We find a spatial gradient in the forsterite to enstatite range, with more enstatite present in the warmer regions. The fact that we see a radial dependence of the dust properties indicates that radial mixing is not very efficient in the discs of these young T Tauri stars. The SED analysis shows that the discs in MBM 12, in general, undergo rapid inner disc clearing, while the binary sources have faster discevolution. The dust grains seem to evolve independently from the stellar properties, but are mildly related to disc properties such as flaring and accretion rates.

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arXiv2008

The structure of the protoplanetary disk surrounding three young intermediate mass stars. II. Spatially resolved dust and gas distribution

[Abridged] We present the first direct comparison of the distribution of the gas, as traced by the [OI] 6300 AA emission, and the dust, as traced by the 10 micron emission, in the protoplanetary disk around three intermediate-mass stars: HD 101412, HD 135344 B and HD 179218. N-band visibilities were obtained with VLTI/MIDI. Simple geometrical models are used to compare the dust emission to high-resolution optical spectra in the 6300 AA [OI] line of the same targets. The disks around HD 101412 and HD 135344 B appear strongly flared in the gas, but self-shadowed in the dust beyond ~ 2 AU. In both systems, the 10 micron emission is rather compact (< 2 AU) while the [OI] brightness profile shows a double peaked structure. The inner peak is strongest and is consistent with the location of the dust, the outer peak is fainter and is located at 5-10 AU. Spatially extended PAH emission is found in both disks. The disk around HD 179218 is flared in the dust. The 10 micron emission emerges from a double ring-like structure with the first ring peaking at ~ 1 AU and the second at ~ 20 AU. No dust emission is detected between ~ 3 -- 15 AU. The oxygen emission seems also to come from a flared structure, however, the bulk of this emission is produced between ~ 1 -- 10 AU. This could indicate a lack of gas in the outer disk or could be due to chemical effects which reduce the abundance of OH -- the parent molecule of the observed [OI] emission -- further away from the star. The three systems, HD 179218, HD 135344 B and HD 101412, may form an evolutionary sequence: the disk initially flared becomes flat under the combined action of gas-dust decoupling, grain growth and dust settling.

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arXiv2008

Brown dwarfs and very low mass stars in the Hyades cluster : a dynamically evolved mass function

We conducted a search for brown dwarfs (BDs) and very low mass (VLM) stars in the 625 Myr-old Hyades cluster in order to derive the cluster's mass function across the stellar-substellar boundary. We performed a deep (I=23, z=22.5) photometric survey over 16 sq.deg. around the cluster center, followed up with K-band photometry to measure the proper motion of candidate members, and optical and near-IR spectroscopy of probable BD and VLM members. We report the discovery of the first 2 brown dwarfs in the Hyades cluster. The 2 objects have a spectral type early-T and their optical and near-IR photometry as well as their proper motion are consistent with them being cluster members. According to models, their mass is 50 Jupiter masses at an age of 625 Myr. We also report the discovery of 3 new very low mass stellar members of the cluster, and confirm the membership of 16 others. We combine these results with a list of previously known cluster members to build the present-day mass function (PDMF) of the Hyades cluster from 50 Jupiter masses to 3Mo. We find the Hyades PDMF to be strongly deficient in very low mass objects and brown dwarfs compared to the IMF of younger open clusters such as the Pleiades. We interpret this deficiency as the result of dynamical evolution over the past few 100 Myr, i.e., the preferential evaporation of low mass cluster members due to weak gravitational encounters. We thus estimate that the Hyades cluster currently hosts about 10-15 brown dwarfs, while its initial substellar population may have amounted up to 150-200 members.

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arXiv2006

The 10 $μ$m infrared band of silicate dust: A laboratory study comparing the aerosol and KBr pellet techniques

The profile of the silicate 10 $μ$m IR band contains important information about the evolutional stage of dust in circumstellar environments and the possible ongoing process of planetesimal formation. In order to extract this information, the observed band profiles are compared with calculated or laboratory-measured absorption cross sections of amorphous and crystalline grains with different sizes and compositions. We present in this study the first laboratory measurements of the 10 $μ$m band profiles of nonembedded, i.e. free-flying, particles of amorphous and crystalline Mg$_2$SiO$_4$ (with two different particle shapes), amorphous and crystalline MgSiO$_3$, and crystalline olivine. We compare the spectra with those measured on embedded grains and discuss the potential of the new experimental method for comparison with observed spectra, as well as for future studies of agglomeration and surface manipulation of the grains.

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arXiv2005

First evidence for a spatially resolved disk structure around the Herbig Ae star R CrA

We present mid-infrared interferometric observations of the Herbig Ae star R CrA obtained with MIDI at the VLTI using several projected baselines in the UT2-UT3 configuration. The observations show resolved circumstellar emission in the wavelength range 8-13 micron on a ~6 AU scale with a non-symmetric intensity distribution, providing support for an inclined disk geometry. Visibilities are best fitted using a uniform ring model with outer radius in the range 6-10 AU, in the wavelength range 8-13 micron. The inclination of the ring with respect to the plane of the sky is found to be ~45 deg., consistent with the 40 deg. suggested from near-infrared imaging polarimetry (Clark et al. 2000, MNRAS, 319, 337).

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arXiv2004

Chandra Orion Ultradeep Project: Observations and Source Lists

We present a description of the data reduction methods and the derived catalog of more than 1600 X-ray point sources from the exceptionally deep January 2003 Chandra X-ray Observatory observation of the Orion Nebula Cluster and embedded populations around OMC-1. The observation was obtained with Chandra's Advanced CCD Imaging Spectrometer (ACIS) and has been nicknamed the Chandra Orion Ultradeep Project (COUP). With an 838 ks exposure made over a continuous period of 13.2 days, the COUP observation provides the most uniform and comprehensive dataset on the X-ray emission of normal stars ever obtained in the history of X-ray astronomy.

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arXiv2003

Mid-IR spectroscopy of T Tauri stars in Chamealeon I: evidence for processed dust at the earliest stages

We present mid-IR spectroscopy of three T Tauri stars in the young Chamealeon I dark cloud obtained with TIMMI2 on the ESO 3.6m telescope. In these three stars, the silicate emission band at 9.7 micron is prominent. We model it with a mixture of amorphous olivine grains of different size, crystalline silicates and silica. The fractional mass of these various components change widely from star to star. While the spectrum of CR Cha is dominated by small amorphous silicates, in VW Cha (and in a lesser degree in Glass I), there is clear evidence of a large amount of processed dust in the form of crystalline silicates and large amorphous grains. This is the first time that processed dust has been detetected in very young T Tauri stars (~ 1 Myr).

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arXiv2002

The absence of the 10 um silicate feature in the isolated Herbig Ae star HD 100453

We analyse the optical and IR spectra, as well as the spectral energy distribution (UV to mm) of the candidate Herbig Ae star HD100453. This star is particular, as it shows an energy distribution similar to that of other isolated Herbig Ae/Be stars (HAEBEs), but unlike most of them, it does not have a silicate emission feature at 10 um, as is shown in Meeus (2001). We confirm the HAEBE nature of HD100453 through an analysis of its optical spectrum and derived location in the H-R diagram. The IR spectrum of HD100453 is modelled by an optically thin radiative transfer code, from which we derive constraints on the composition, grain-size and temperature distribution of the circumstellar dust. We show that it is both possible to explain the lack of the silicate feature as (1) a grain-size effect - lack of small silicate grains, and (2) a temperature effect - lack of small, hot silicates, as proposed by Dullemond (2001), and discuss both possibilities.

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arXiv2001

The composition of circumstellar gas and dust in 51 Oph

We analyze ISO archive data of the nearby bright emission-line star 51 Oph, previously classified as a proto-planetary system similar to beta Pic. The infrared spectrum reveals the presence of gas-phase emission bands of hot (approx 850 K) CO, CO_2, H_2O and NO. In addition to this, partially crystalline silicate dust is present. The solid-state bands and the energy distribution are indicative of dust that has formed recently, rather than of debris dust. The presence of hot molecular gas and the composition of the circumstellar dust are highly unusual for a young star and are reminiscent of what is found around evolved (AGB) stars, although we exclude the possibility of 51 Oph belonging to this group. We suggest several explanations for the nature of 51 Oph, including a recent episode of mass loss from a Be star, and the recent destruction of a planet-sized body around a young star.

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arXiv2000

ISO spectroscopy of circumstellar dust in 14 Herbig Ae/Be systems: towards an understanding of dust processing

We present Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) spectra of fourteen isolated Herbig Ae/Be (HAEBE) stars, to study the characteristics of their circumstellar dust. These spectra show large star-to-star differences, in the emission features of both carbon-rich and oxygen-rich dust grains. The IR spectra were combined with photometric data ranging from the UV through the optical into the sub-mm region. We defined two key groups, based upon the spectral shape of the infrared region. The derived results can be summarized as follows: (1) the continuum of the IR to sub-mm region of all stars can be reconstructed by the sum of a power-law and a cool component, which can be represented by a black body. Possible locations for these components are an optically thick, geometrically thin disc (power-law component) and an optically thin flared region (black body); (2) all stars have a substantial amount of cold dust around them, independent of the amount of mid-IR excess they show; (3) also the near-IR excess is unrelated to the mid-IR excess, indicating different composition/location of the emitting material; (4) remarkably, some sources lack the silicate bands; (5) apart from amorphous silicates, we find evidence for crystalline silicates in several stars, some of which are new detections; (6) PAH bands are present in at least 50% of our sample, and their appearance is slightly different from PAHs in the ISM; (7) PAH bands are, with one exception, not present in sources which only show a power-law continuum in the IR; their presence is unrelated to the presence of the silicate bands; (8) the dust in HAEBE stars shows strong evidence for coagulation; this dust processing is unrelated to any of the central star properties (such as age, spectral type and activity).

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