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Masao Saito

Publications and source records attributed to Masao Saito.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

ALMA Observations of the Transition from Infall Motion to Keplerian Rotation around the Late-phase Protostar TMC-1A

We have observed the Class I protostar TMC-1A with Atacama Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in 12CO and C18O (J=2-1), and 1.3-mm dust continuum emission. Continuum emission with a deconvolved size of 0.50"x0.37", perpendicular to the 12CO outflow, is detected. It most likely traces a circumstellar disk around TMC-1A, as previously reported. In contrast, a more extended structure is detected in C18O although it is still elongated with a deconvolved size of 3.3"x2.2", indicating that C18O traces mainly a flattened envelope surrounding the disk and the central protostar. C18O shows a clear velocity gradient perpendicular to the outflow at higher velocities, indicative of rotation, while an additional velocity gradient along the outflow is found at lower velocities. The radial profile of the rotational velocity is analyzed in detail, finding that it is given as a power-law \propto r^{-a} with an index of ~0.5 at higher velocities. This suggests that the rotation at higher velocities can be explained as Keplerian rotation orbiting a protostar with a dynamical mass of 0.68 Mo (inclination-corrected). The additional velocity gradient of C18O along the outflow is considered to be mainly infall motions in the envelope. Position-Velocity diagrams made from models consisting of an infalling envelope and a Keplerian disk are compared with the observations, revealing that the observed infall velocity is ~0.3 times smaller than the free fall velocity yielded by the dynamical mass of the protostar. Magnetic fields could be responsible for the slow infall velocity. A possible scenario of Keplerian disk formation is discussed.

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First Detection of [C I] $^3$P$_1$-$^3$P$_0$ Emission from a Protoplanetary Disk

We performed single point [C I] $^3$P$_1$-$^3$P$_0$ and CO J=4-3 observations toward three T Tauri stars, DM Tau, LkCa 15, and TW Hya, using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) Band 8 qualification model receiver installed on the Atacama Submillimeter Telescope Experiment (ASTE). Two protostars in the Taurus L1551 region, L1551 IRS 5 and HL Tau, were also observed. We successfully detected [C I] emission from the protoplanetary disk around DM Tau as well as the protostellar targets. The spectral profile of the [C I] emission from the protoplanetary disk is marginally single-peaked, suggesting that atomic carbon (C) extends toward the outermost disk. The detected [C I] emission is optically thin and the column densities of C are estimated to be <~10$^{16}$ cm$^{-2}$ and ~10$^{17}$ cm$^{-2}$ for the T Tauri star targets and the protostars, respectively. We found a clear difference in the total mass ratio of C to dust, $M$(C)/$M$(dust), between the T Tauri stars and protostellar targets; the $M$(C)/$M$(dust) ratio of the T Tauri stars is one order of magnitude smaller than that of the protostars. The decrease of the estimated $M$(C)/$M$(dust) ratios for the disk sources is consistent with a theoretical prediction that the atomic C can survive only in the near surface layer of the disk and C$^+$/C/CO transition occurs deeper into the disk midplane.

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Discovery of Star Formation in the Extreme Outer Galaxy Possibly Induced by a High-velocity Cloud Impact

We report the discovery of star formation activity in perhaps the most distant molecular cloud in the extreme outer galaxy. We performed deep near infrared imaging with the Subaru 8.2 m telescope, and found two young embedded clusters at two CO peaks of Digel Cloud 1 at the kinematic distance of D = 16 kpc (Galactocentric radius RG = 22 kpc). We identified 18 and 45 cluster members in the two peaks, and the estimated stellar density are ~ 5 and ~ 3 pc^-2, respectively. The observed K-band luminosity function suggests that the age of the clusters is less than 1 Myr and also the distance to the clusters is consistent with the kinematic distance. On the sky, Cloud 1 is located very close to the H I peak of high-velocity cloud (HVC) Complex H, and there are some H I intermediate velocity structures between the Complex H and the Galactic disk, which could indicate an interaction between them. We suggest possibility that Complex H impacting on the Galactic disk has triggered star formation in Cloud 1 as well as the formation of Cloud 1 molecular cloud.

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Formation of a Keplerian disk in the infalling envelope around L1527 IRS: transformation from infalling motions to Kepler motions

We report Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) cycle 0 observations of C$^{18}$O ($J=2-1$), SO ($J_N= 6_5-5_4$) and 1.3mm dust continuum toward L1527 IRS, a class 0 solar-type protostar surrounded by an infalling and rotating envelope. C$^{18}$O emission shows strong redshifted absorption against the bright continuum emission associated with L1527 IRS, strongly suggesting infall motions in the C$^{18}$O envelope. The C$^{18}$O envelope also rotates with a velocity mostly proportional to $r^{-1}$, where $r$ is the radius, while the rotation profile at the innermost radius (54 AU) may be shallower than $r^{-1}$, suggestive of formation of a Keplerian disk around the central protostar of 0.3 Mo in dynamical mass. SO emission arising from the inner part of the C$^{18}$O envelope also shows rotation in the same direction as the C$^{18}$O envelope. The rotation is, however, rigid-body like which is very different from the differential rotation shown by C$^{18}$O. In order to explain the line profiles and the position-velocity (PV) diagrams of C$^{18}$O and SO observed, simple models composed of an infalling envelope surrounding a Keplerian disk of 54 AU in radius orbiting a star of 0.3 Mo are examined. It is found that in order to reproduce characteristic features of the observed line profiles and PV diagrams, the infall velocity in the model has to be smaller than the free-fall velocity yielded by a star of 0.3 Mo. Possible reasons for the reduced infall velocities are discussed.

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Angular Momentum Exchange by Gravitational Torques and Infall in the Circumbinary Disk of the Protostellar System L1551 NE

We report the ALMA observation of the Class I binary protostellar system L1551 NE in the 0.9-mm continuum, C18O (3-2), and 13CO (3-2) lines at a ~1.6 times higher resolution and a ~6 times higher sensitivity than those of our previous SMA observations, which revealed a r ~300 AU-scale circumbinary disk in Keplerian rotation. The 0.9-mm continuum shows two opposing U-shaped brightenings in the circumbinary disk, and exhibits a depression between the circumbinary disk and the circumstellar disk of the primary protostar. The molecular lines trace non-axisymmetric deviations from Keplerian rotation in the circumbinary disk at higher velocities relative to the systemic velocity, where our previous SMA observations could not detect the lines. In addition, we detect inward motion along the minor axis of the circumbinary disk. To explain the newly-observed features, we performed a numerical simulation of gas orbits in a Roche potential tailored to the inferred properties of L1551 NE. The observed U-shaped dust features coincide with locations where gravitational torques from the central binary system are predicted to impart angular momentum to the circumbinary disk, producing shocks and hence density enhancements seen as a pair of spiral arms. The observed inward gas motion coincides with locations where angular momentum is predicted to be lowered by the gravitational torques. The good agreement between our observation and model indicates that gravitational torques from the binary stars constitute the primary driver for exchanging angular momentum so as to permit infall through the circumbinary disk of L1551 NE.

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ALMA Observations of Infalling Flows toward the Keplerian Disk around the Class I Protostar L1489 IRS

We have conducted ALMA observations in the 1.3 mm continuum and 12CO (2-1), C18O (2-1) and SO (5_6-4_5) lines toward L1489 IRS, a Class I protostar surrounded by a Keplerian disk and an infalling envelope. The Keplerian disk is clearly identified in the 12CO and C18O emission, and its outer radius (~700 AU) and mass (~0.005 Msun) are comparable to those of disks around T Tauri stars. The protostellar mass is estimated to be 1.6 Msun with the inclination angle of 66 deg. In addition to the Keplerian disk, there are blueshifted and redshifted off-axis protrusions seen in the C18O emission pointing toward the north and the south, respectively, adjunct to the middle part of the Keplerian disk. The shape and kinematics of these protrusions can be interpreted as streams of infalling flows with a conserved angular momentum following parabolic trajectories toward the Keplerian disk, and the mass infalling rate is estimated to be ~5E-7 Msun/yr. The specific angular momentum of the infalling flows (~2.5E-3 km/s*pc) is comparable to that at the outer radius of the Keplerian disk (~4.8E-3 km/s*pc). The SO emission is elongated along the disk major axis and exhibits a linear velocity gradient along the axis, which is interpreted as that the SO emission primarily traces a ring region in the flared Keplerian disk at radii of ~250-390 AU. The local enhancement of the SO abundance in the ring region can be due to the accretion shocks at the centrifugal radius where the infalling flows fall onto the disk. Our ALMA observations unveiled both the Keplerian disk and the infalling gas onto the disk, and the disk can further grow by accreting material and angular momenta from the infalling gas.

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Rapid Evolution of the Innermost Dust Disk of Protoplanetary Disks Surrounding Intermediate-mass Stars

We derived the intermediate-mass (~=1.5--7 M_sun) disk fraction (IMDF) in the near-infrared JHK photometric bands as well as in the mid-infrared (MIR) bands for young clusters in the age range of 0 to ~10 Myr. From the JHK IMDF, the lifetime of the innermost dust disk (~0.3 AU; hereafter the K disk) is estimated to be ~3 Myr, suggesting a stellar mass (M*) dependence of K-disk lifetime proportional to M*^-0.7. However, from the MIR IMDF, the lifetime of the inner disk (~5 AU; hereafter the MIR disk) is estimated to be ~6.5 Myr, suggesting a very weak stellar mass dependence (proportional to M*^-0.2). The much shorter K-disk lifetime compared to the MIR-disk lifetime for intermediate-mass (IM) stars suggests that IM stars with transition disks, which have only MIR excess emission but no K-band excess emission, are more common than classical Herbig Ae/Be stars, which exhibit both. We suggest that this prominent early disappearance of the K disk for IM stars is due to dust settling/growth in the protoplanetary disk, and it could be one of the major reasons for the paucity of close-in planets around IM stars.

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High abundance ratio of $^{13}$CO to C$^{18}$O toward photon-dominated regions in the Orion-A giant molecular cloud

Aims. We derive physical properties such as the optical depths and the column densities of $^{13}$CO and C$^{18}$O to investigate the relationship between the far ultraviolet (FUV) radiation and the abundance ratios between $^{13}$CO and C$^{18}$O. Method. We have carried out wide-field (0.4 deg$^2$) observations with an angular resolution of 25.8 arcsec ($\sim$ 0.05 pc) in $^{13}$CO ($J$=1--0) and C$^{18}$O ($J$=1--0) toward the Orion-A giant molecular cloud using the Nobeyama 45 m telescope in the on-the-fly mode. Results. Overall distributions and velocity structures of the $^{13}$CO and C$^{18}$O emissions are similar to those of the $^{12}$CO ($J$=1--0) emission. The optical depths of the $^{13}$CO and C18O emission lines are estimated to be 0.05 $<$ $τ_{\rm ^{13}CO}$ $<$ 1.54 and 0.01 $<$ $τ_{\rm C^{18}O}$ $<$ 0.18, respectively. The column densities of the $^{13}$CO and C$^{18}$O emission lines are estimated to be 0.2 $\times$ 10$^{16}$ $<$ $N_{\rm ^{13}CO}$ $<$ 3.7 $\times$ 10$^{17}$ cm$^{-2}$ and 0.4 $\times$ 10$^{15}$ $<$ $N_{\rm C^{18}O}$ $<$ 3.5 $\times$ 10$^{16}$ cm$^{-2}$, respectively. The abundance ratios between $^{13}$CO and C$^{18}$O, $X_{\rm ^{13}CO}$/$X_{\rm C^{18}O}$, are found to be 5.7 - 33.0. The mean value of $X_{\rm ^{13}CO}$/$X_{\rm C^{18}O}$ in the nearly edge-on photon-dominated regions is found to be 16.47 $\pm$ 0.10, which is a third larger than that the solar system value of 5.5. The mean value of $X_{\rm ^{13}CO}$/$X_{\rm C^{18}O}$ in the other regions is found to be 12.29 $\pm$ 0.02. The difference of the abundance ratio is most likely due to the selective FUV photodissociation of C$^{18}$O.

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High-Resolution Submillimeter and Near-Infrared Studies of the Transition Disk around Sz 91

To reveal the structures of a transition disk around a young stellar object in Lupus, Sz 91, we have performed aperture synthesis 345 GHz continuum and CO(3--2) observations with the Submillimeter Array ($\sim1\arcsec$--3$\arcsec$ resolution), and high-resolution imaging of polarized intensity at the $K_s$-band by using the HiCIAO instrument on the Subaru Telescope ($0\farcs25$ resolution). Our observations successfully resolved the inner and outer radii of the dust disk to be 65 AU and 170 AU, respectively, which indicates that Sz 91 is a transition disk source with one of the largest known inner holes. The model fitting analysis of the spectral energy distribution reveals an H$_2$ mass of $2.4\times10^{-3}$ $M_\sun$ in the cold ($T<$30 K) outer part at $65 3\times10^{-9}$ $M_\sun$) of hot ($T\sim$180 K) dust possibly remains inside the inner hole of the disk. The structure of the hot component could be interpreted as either an unresolved self-luminous companion body (not directly detected in our observations) or a narrow ring inside the inner hole. Significant CO(3--2) emission with a velocity gradient along the major axis of the dust disk is concentrated on the Sz 91 position, suggesting a rotating gas disk with a radius of 420 AU. The Sz 91 disk is possibly a rare disk in an evolutionary stage immediately after the formation of protoplanets because of the large inner hole and the lower disk mass than other transition disks studied thus far.

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The Environment around the Young Massive Star Cluster RSGC 1 and HESS J1837-069

We report on Mopra observations toward the young massive star cluster RSGC 1, adjoined by, and possibly associated with the gamma-ray source HESS J1837-069. We measure the CO (J=1-0) distribution around the cluster and gamma-ray source, and find that the cluster is slightly higher than the velocity ranges associated with the Crux-Scutum arm. We reveal the cluster is associated with much less molecular gas compared with other young massive clusters in the Galaxy, Westerlund 1 (Wd 1) and 2 (Wd 2), which also radiate gamma-rays. We find no other structures that would otherwise indicate the action of supernova remnants, and due to the lack of material which may form gamma-rays by hadronic interaction, we conclude that the gamma-rays detected from HESS J1837-069 are not created through proton-proton interactions, and may more plausibly originate from the pulsar that was recently found near RSGC 1.

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Evidence for Infalling Gas of Low Angular Momentum towards the L1551 NE Keplerian Circumbinary Disk

We report follow-up observations of the Class I binary protostellar system L1551 NE in the C18O (3--2) line with the SMA in its compact and subcompact configurations. Our previous observations at a higher angular resolution in the extended configuration revealed a circumbinary disk exhibiting Keplerian motion. The combined data having more extensive spatial coverage (~140 - 2000 AU) verify the presence of a Keplerian circumbinary disk, and reveals for the first time a distinct low-velocity (~< +-0.5 km s-1 from the systemic velocity) component that displays a velocity gradient along the minor axis of the circumbinary disk. Our simple model that reproduces the main features seen in the Position-Velocity diagrams comprises a circumbinary disk exhibiting Keplerian motion out to a radius of ~300 AU, beyond which the gas exhibits pure infall at a constant velocity of ~0.6 km s-1. The latter is significantly smaller than the expected free-fall velocity of ~2.2 km s-1 onto the L1551 NE protostellar mass of ~0.8 Msun at ~300 AU, suggesting that the infalling gas is decelerated as it moves into regions of high gas pressure in the circumbinary disk. The discontinuity in angular momenta between the outer infalling gas and inner Keplerian circumbinary disk implies an abrupt transition in the effectiveness at which magnetic braking is able to transfer angular momentum outwards, a result perhaps of the different plasma beta and ionization fractions between the outer and inner regions of the circumbinary disk.

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Extensive [CI] Mapping toward the Orion-A Molecular Cloud

We have carried out wide-field (0.17 degree^2) and high-angular resolution (21.3 arcsec ~ 0.04 pc) observations in [CI] line toward the Orion-A giant molecular cloud with the Atacama Submillimeter Telescope Experiment (ASTE) 10 m telescope in the On-The-Fly (OTF) mode. Overall features of the [CI] emission are similar to those of the CO (1--0) emission in Shimajiri et al. (2011); the total intensity ratio of the [CI] to CO emission ranges from 0.05 to 0.2. The optical depth of the [CI] emission is found to be 0.1 -- 0.75, suggesting optically thin emission. The column density of the [CI] emission is estimated to be (1.0 -- 19) x 10^17 cm^-2. These results are consistent with the results of the previous [CI] observations with a low-angular resolution of 2.2 arcmin (e.g. Ikeda et al. 1999). In the nearly edge-on PDRs and their candidates of the Orion Bar, DLSF, M 43 Shell, and Region D, the distributions of the [CI] emission coincide with those of the CO emission, inconsistent with the prediction by the plane-parallel PDR model (Hollenbach & Tielens 1999). In addition, the [CI] distribution in the Orion A cloud is found to be more similar to those of the ^{13}CO (1--0), C^{18}O (1--0), and H^{13}CO^+ (1--0) lines than that of the CO (1--0) line, suggesting that the [CI] emission is not limited to the cloud surface, but is tracing the dense, inner parts of the cloud.

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Unveiling the detailed density and velocity structures of the protostellar core B335

We present an observational study of the protostellar core B335 harboring a low-mass Class 0 source. The observations of the H13CO+(J=1-0) line emission were carried out using the Nobeyama 45 m telescope and Nobeyama Millimeter Array. Our combined image of the interferometer and single-dish data depicts detailed structures of the dense envelope within the core. We found that the core has a radial density profile of n(r) prop. r^-p and a reliable difference in the power-law indices between the outer and inner regions of the core: p~2 for r >= 4000 AU and p ~ 1.5 for r <= 4000 AU}. The dense core shows a slight overall velocity gradient of ~1.0 km s^-1 over the scale of 20,000 AU across the outflow axis. We believe that this velocity gradient represents a solid-body-like rotation of the core. The dense envelope has a quite symmetrical velocity structure with a remarkable line broadening toward the core center, which is especially prominent in the position-velocity diagram across the outflow axis. The model calculations of position-velocity diagrams do a good job of reproducing observational results using the collapse model of an isothermal sphere in which the core has an inner free-fall region and an outer region conserving the conditions at the formation stage of a central stellar object. We derived a central stellar mass of ~0.1 M_sun, and suggest a small inward velocity, v(r>r_inf) ~ 0 km s^-1 in the outer core at >= 4000 AU. We concluded that our data can be well explained by gravitational collapse with a quasi-static initial condition, such as Shu's model, or by the isothermal collapse of a marginally critical Bonnor-Ebert sphere.

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Maps of Massive Clumps in the Early Stage of Cluster Formation: Two Modes of Cluster Formation, Coeval or Non-Coeval?

We present maps of 7 young massive molecular clumps within 5 target regions in the C18O (J=1-0) line emission, using the Nobeyama 45m telescope. These clumps, which are not associated with clusters, lie at distances between 0.7 to 2.1 kpc. We find C18O clumps with radii of 0.5-1.7 pc, masses of 470-4200 Msun, and velocity widths of 1.4-3.3 km/s. All of the clumps are massive and approximately in virial equilibrium, suggesting they will potentially form clusters. Three of our target regions are associated with H II regions ("CWHRs" from Clump with H II Regions), and the other two are without H II regions (CWOHRs). The C18O clumps can be classified into two morphological types: CWHRs shape a filamentary or shell-like structure, CWOHRs are spherical. The two CWOHRs have systematic velocity gradients. Using the publicly released WISE database, Class I and Class II protostellar candidates were identified within the C18O clumps. The fraction of the Class I candidates among all YSO candidates (Class I+Class II) is > 50 % in CWHRs, and < 50 % in CWOHRs. We conclude that effects from the H II regions can be seen in (1) spatial distributions of the clumps: filamentary or shell-like structure running along the H II regions, (2) velocity structures of the clumps: large velocity dispersion along shells, and (3) small age spreads of YSOs. The small spread in age of the YSOs show that the presence of H II regions tend to trigger coeval cluster formation.

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A Keplerian Circumbinary Disk around the Protobinary System L1551 NE

We present SubMillimeter-Array observations of a Keplerian disk around the Class I protobinary system L1551 NE in 335 GHz continuum emission and submillimeter line emission in 13CO (J=3-2) and C18O (J=3-2) at a resolution of ~120 x 80 AU. The 335-GHz dust-continuum image shows a strong central peak closely coincident with the binary protostars and likely corresponding to circumstellar disks, surrounded by a ~600 x 300 AU feature elongated approximately perpendicular to the [Fe II] jet from the southern protostellar component suggestive of a circumbinary disk. The 13CO and C18O images confirm that the circumbinary continuum feature is indeed a rotating disk; furthermore, the C18O channel maps can be well modeled by a geometrically-thin disk exhibiting Keplerian rotation. We estimate a mass for the circumbinary disk of ~0.03-0.12 Msun, compared with an enclosed mass of ~0.8 Msun that is dominated by the protobinary system. Compared with several other Class I protostars known to exhibit Keplerian disks, L1551 NE has the lowest bolometric temperature (~91 K), highest envelope mass (~0.39 Msun), and the lowest ratio in stellar mass to envelope + disk + stellar mass (~0.65). L1551 NE may therefore be the youngest protostellar object so far found to exhibit a Keplerian disk. Our observations present firm evidence that Keplerian disks around binary protostellar systems, ``Keplerian circumbinary disks', can exist. We speculate that tidal effects from binary companions could transport angular momenta toward the inner edge of the circumbinary disk and create the Keplerian circumbinary disk.

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Next Generation Millimeter/Submillimeter Array to Search for 2nd Earth

ALMA is a revolutionary radio telescope at present and its full operation will start from 2012. It is expected that ALMA will resolve several cosmic questions and will show a new cosmic view to us. Our passion for astronomy naturally goes beyond ALMA because we believe that the 21st-century Astronomy should pursue the new scientific frontier. In this conference, we propose a project of the future radio telescope to search for Habitable planets and finally detect 2nd Earth as a Migratable planet. The detection of 2nd Earth is one of ultimate dreams for not only astronomers but also people.

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Atacama Compact Array Antennas

We report major performance test results of the Atacama Compact Array (ACA) 7-m and 12-m antennas of ALMA (Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array). The four major performances of the ACA antennas are all-sky pointing (to be not more than 2.0 arcsec), offset pointing (to be < 0.6 arcsec) surface accuracy (< 25(20) micrometer for 12(7)m-antenna), stability of path-length (15 micrometer over 3 min), and high servo capability (6 degrees/s for Azimuth and 3 degrees/s for Elevation). The high performance of the ACA antenna has been extensively evaluated at the Site Erection Facility area at an altitude of about 2900 meters. Test results of pointing performance, surface performance, and fast motion capability are demonstrated.

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Detection of Strong Millimeter Emission from the Circumstellar Dust Disk Around V1094 Sco: Cold and Massive Disk around a T Tauri Star in a Quiescent Accretion Phase?

We present the discovery of a cold massive dust disk around the T Tauri star V1094 Sco in the Lupus molecular cloud from the 1.1 millimeter continuum observations with AzTEC on ASTE. A compact ($r\lesssim$320 AU) continuum emission coincides with the stellar position having a flux density of 272 mJy which is largest among T Tauri stars in Lupus. We also present the detection of molecular gas associated with the star in the five-point observations in $^{12}$CO J=3--2 and $^{13}$CO J=3--2. Since our $^{12}$CO and $^{13}$CO observations did not show any signature of a large-scale outflow or a massive envelope, the compact dust emission is likely to come from a disk around the star. The observed SED of V1094 Sco shows no distinct turnover from near infrared to millimeter wavelengths, which can be well described by a flattened disk for the dust component, and no clear dip feature around 10 $\micron$ suggestive of absence of an inner hole in the disk. We fit a simple power-law disk model to the observed SED. The estimated disk mass ranges from 0.03 to $\gtrsim$0.12 $M_\sun$, which is one or two orders of magnitude larger than the median disk mass of T Tauri stars in Taurus.

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