arXiv subjects

P. Riviere-Marichalar

Publications and source records attributed to P. Riviere-Marichalar.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2023

The ALMA view of MP Mus (PDS 66): a protoplanetary disk with no visible gaps down to 4 au scales

We present ALMA multiwavelength observations of the protoplanetary disk around the nearby (d$\sim$100 pc) young solar analog MP Mus (PDS 66). These observations at 0.89 mm, 1.3 mm, and 2.2 mm have angular resolutions of $\sim$ 1", 0.05", and 0.25", respectively, and probe the dust and gas in the system with unprecedented detail and sensitivity. The disk appears smooth down to the 4 au resolution of the 1.3 mm observations, in contrast with most disks observed at comparable spatial scales. The dust disk has a radius of 60$\pm$5 au, a dust mass of $0.14_{-0.06}^{+0.11} M_{\rm Jup}$, and a mm spectral index $<2$ in the inner 30 au, suggesting optically thick emission from grains with high albedo in this region. Several molecular gas lines are also detected extending up to 130$\pm$15 au, similar to small grains traced by scattered light observations. Comparing the fluxes of different CO isotopologues with previous models yields a gas mass of $0.1-1 M_{\rm Jup}$, implying a gas to dust ratio of 1-10. We also measure a dynamical stellar mass of $M_{\rm dyn}$=1.30$\pm$0.08 $M_\odot$ and derive an age of 7-10 Myr for the system. The survival of large grains in an evolved disk without gaps/rings is surprising, and it is possible that existing substructures remain undetected due to optically thick emission at 1.3 mm. Alternatively, small structures may still remain unresolved with the current observations. Based on simple scaling relations for gap-opening planets and gap widths, this lack of substructures places upper limits to the masses of planets in the disk as low as 2 $M_\oplus$-0.06 $M_{\rm Jup}$ at $r > 40$ au. The lack of mm emission at radii $r > 60$ au also suggests that the gap in scattered light between 30-80 au is likely not a gap in the disk density, but a shadow cast by a puffed-up inner disk.

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arXiv2022

Gas phase Elemental abundances in Molecular cloudS (GEMS) VI. A sulphur journey across star-forming regions: study of thioformaldehyde emission

In the context of the IRAM 30m Large Program GEMS, we present a study of thioformaldehyde in several starless cores located in star-forming filaments of Taurus, Perseus, and Orion. We investigate the influence of the environmental conditions on the abundances of these molecules in the cores, and the effect of time evolution. We have modelled the observed lines of H2CS, HDCS, and D2CS using the radiative transfer code RADEX. We have also used the chemical code Nautilus to model the evolution of these species depending on the characteristics of the starless cores. We derive column densities and abundances for all the cores. We also derive deuterium fractionation ratios, Dfrac, to determine and compare the evolutionary stage between different parts of each star-forming region. Our results indicate that the north region of the B213 filament in Taurus is more evolved than the south, while the north-eastern part of Perseus presents an earlier evolutionary stage than the south-western zone. Model results also show that Dfrac decreases with the cosmic-ray ionisation rate, while it increases with density and with the degree of sulphur depletion. In particular, we only reproduce the observations when the initial sulphur abundance in the starless cores is at least one order of magnitude lower than the solar elemental sulphur abundance. The progressive increase in HDCS/H2CS and D2CS/H2CS with time makes these ratios powerful tools for deriving the chemical evolutionary stage of starless cores. However, they cannot be used to derive the temperature of these regions, since both ratios present a similar evolution at two different temperature ranges (7-11 K and 15-19 K). Regarding chemistry, (deuterated) thioformaldehyde is mainly formed through gas-phase reactions (double-replacement and neutral-neutral displacement reactions), while surface chemistry plays an important role as a destruction mechanism.

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arXiv2020

Gas-phase Elemental abundances in Molecular cloudS (GEMS) III. Unlocking the CS chemistry: the CS+O reaction

CS is among the most abundant gas-phase S-bearing molecules in cold dark molecular clouds. It is easily observable with several transitions in the millimeter wavelength range, and has been widely used as a tracer of the gas density in the interstellar medium in our Galaxy and external galaxies. Chemical models fail to account for the observed CS abundances when assuming the cosmic value for the elemental abundance of sulfur. The CS+O -> CO + S reaction has been proposed as a relevant CS destruction mechanism at low temperatures, and could explain the discrepancy between models and observations. Its reaction rate has been experimentally measured at temperatures of 150-400 K, but the extrapolation to lower temperatures is doubtful. Here we calculate the CS+O reaction rate at temperatures <150 K which are prevailing in the interstellar medium. We performed ab initio calculations to obtain the three lowest PES of the CS+O system. These PESs are used to study the reaction dynamics, using several methods to eventually calculate the CS+O thermal reaction rates. We compare the results of our theoretical calculations for 150-400 K with those obtained in the laboratory. Our detailed theoretical study on the CS+O reaction, which is in agreement with the experimental data obtained at 150-400 K, demonstrates the reliability of our approach. After a careful analysis at lower temperatures, we find that the rate constant at 10 K is negligible, which is consistent with the extrapolation of experimental data using the Arrhenius expression. We use the updated chemical network to model the sulfur chemistry in TMC1 based on molecular abundances determined from GEMS project observations. In our model, we take into account the expected decrease of the cosmic ray ionization rate along the cloud. The abundance of CS is still overestimated when assuming the cosmic value for the sulfur abundance.

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arXiv2020

Gas kinematics of key prebiotic molecules in GV Tau N revealed with an ALMA, PdBI, and Herschel synergy

A large effort has been made to detect warm gas in the planet formation zone of circumstellar discs using space and ground-based near infrared facilities. GV Tau N, the most obscured component of the GV Tau system, is an outstanding source, being one of the first targets detected in HCN and the only one detected in CH$_4$ so far. Although near infrared observations have shed light on its chemical content, the physical structure and kinematics of the circumstellar matter remained unknown. We use interferometric images of the HCN 3-2 and $^{13}$CO 3-2 lines, and far-IR observations of $^{13}$CO, HCN, CN and H$_2$O transitions to discern the morphology, kinematics, and chemistry of the dense gas close to the star. These observations constitute the first detection of H$_2$O towards GV Tau N. Moreover, ALMA high spatial resolution (~ 7 au) images of the continuum at 1.1 mm and the HCN 3-2 line resolve different gas components towards GV Tau N, a gaseous disc with R~25 au, an ionized jet, and one (or two) molecular outflows. The asymmetric morphology of the gaseous disc shows that it has been eroded by the jet. All observations can be explained if GV Tau N is binary, and the primary component has a highly inclined individual disc relative to the circumbinary disc. We discuss the origin of the water and the other molecules emission according to this scenario. In particular, we propose that the water emission would come from the disrupted gaseous disc and the molecular outflows.

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arXiv2020

Exocomets: A spectroscopic survey

While exoplanets are now routinely detected, the detection of small bodies in extrasolar systems remains challenging. Since the discovery of sporadic events interpreted as exocomets (Falling Evaporating Bodies) around $β$ Pic in the early 80s, only $\sim$20 stars have been reported to host exocomet-like events. We aim to expand the sample of known exocomet-host stars, as well as to monitor the hot-gas environment around stars with previously known exocometary activity. We have obtained high-resolution optical spectra of a heterogeneous sample of 117 main-sequence stars in the spectral type range from B8 to G8. The data have been collected in 14 observing campaigns expanding over 2 years from both hemispheres. We have analysed the Ca ii K&H and Na i D lines in order to search for non-photospheric absorptions originated in the circumstellar environment, and for variable events that could be caused by outgassing of exocomet-like bodies. We have detected non-photospheric absorptions towards 50% of the sample, attributing a circumstellar origin to half of the detections (i.e. 26% of the sample). Hot circumstellar gas is detected in the metallic lines inspected via narrow stable absorptions, and/or variable blue-/red-shifted absorption events. Such variable events were found in 18 stars in the Ca ii and/or Na i lines; 6 of them are reported in the context of this work for the first time. In some cases the variations we report in the Ca ii K line are similar to those observed in $β$ Pic. While we do not find a significant trend with the age or location of the stars, we do find that the probability of finding CS gas in stars with larger vsin i is higher. We also find a weak trend with the presence of near-infrared excess, and with anomalous ($λ$ Boo-like) abundances, but this would require confirmation by expanding the sample.

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arXiv2018

Re-visiting the case of R Mon: Is CO removed at R<20 au?

To our knowledge, R Mon is the only B0 star in which a gaseous Keplerian disk has been detected. However, there is some controversy about the spectral type of R Mon. Some authors propose that it could be a later B8e star, where disks are more common. We have re-evaluated the spectral type of R Mon using the available continuum data and UVES emission lines. We used a power-law disk model to fit previous 12 CO 1-0 and 2-1 interferometric observations and the PACS CO data to investigate the disk structure. Interferometric detections of 13 CO J=1-0, HCO+ 1-0, and CN 1-0 lines using the IRAM Plateau de Bure Interferometer (PdBI) are presented. The HCN 1-0 line was not detected. Our analysis confirms that R Mon is a B0 star. The disk model compatible with the 12 CO 1-0 and 2-1 interferometric observations falls short of predicting the observed fluxes of the 14 31 CO lines suggest the existence of a region empty of CO at R<20 au in the proto-planetary disk. The intense emission of the HCO+ and CN lines shows the strong influence of UV photons on gas chemistry. The observations gathered in this paper are consistent with the presence around R Mon of a transition disk with a cavity about 20 au. This size is similar to the photoevaporation radius that supports the interpretation that UV photoevaporation is main disk dispersal mechanism in massive stars

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arXiv2018

The co-existence of hot and cold gas in debris discs

Debris discs have often been described as gas-poor discs as the gas-to-dust ratio is expected to be considerably lower than in primordial,protoplanetary discs. However, recent observations have confirmed the presence of a non-negligible amount of cold gas in the circumstellar (CS) debris discs around young main-sequence stars.This cold gas has been suggested to be related to the outgassing of planetesimals and cometary-like objects. The aim of the paper is to investigate the presence of hot gas in the surroundings of stars bearing cold-gas debris discs. High-resolution optical spectra of all currently known cold-gas-bearing debris-disc systems, with the exception of $β$ Pic and Fomalhaut, have been obtained from different observatories.We have analysed the Ca II H & K and the Na I D lines searching for non-photospheric absorptions of CS origin, usually attributed to cometary-like activity. Narrow, stable Ca II and/or Na I absorption features have been detected superimposed to the photospheric lines in 10 out of the 15 observed cold-gas-bearing debris disc.Features are found at the radial velocity of the stars, or slightly blue- or red-shifted, and/or at the velocity of the local interstellar medium (ISM). Some stars also present transient variable events or absorptions extended towards red wavelengths. These are the first detections of such Ca II features in 7 out of the 15 observed stars. In some of these stars, results suggest that the stable and variable absorptions arise from relatively hot gas located in the CS close-in environment. This hot gas is detected in at least ~80%, of edge-on cold-gas-bearing debris discs, while in only ~10% of the discs seen close to face-on. We interpret this as a geometrical effect, and suggest that the non-detection of hot gas absorptions is due to the disc inclination rather than to the absence of the hot-gas component.

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arXiv2017

DZ Cha: a bona fide photoevaporating disc

DZ Cha is a weak-lined T Tauri star (WTTS) surrounded by a bright protoplanetary disc with evidence of inner disc clearing. Its narrow $\Ha$ line and infrared spectral energy distribution suggest that DZ Cha may be a photoevaporating disc. We aim to analyse the DZ Cha star + disc system to identify the mechanism driving the evolution of this object. We have analysed three epochs of high resolution optical spectroscopy, photometry from the UV up to the sub-mm regime, infrared spectroscopy, and J-band imaging polarimetry observations of DZ Cha. Combining our analysis with previous studies we find no signatures of accretion in the $\Ha$ line profile in nine epochs covering a time baseline of $\sim20$ years. The optical spectra are dominated by chromospheric emission lines, but they also show emission from the forbidden lines [SII] 4068 and [OI] 6300$\,Å$ that indicate a disc outflow. The polarized images reveal a dust depleted cavity of $\sim7$ au in radius and two spiral-like features, and we derive a disc dust mass limit of $M_\mathrm{dust}<3\MEarth$ from the sub-mm photometry. No stellar ($M_\star > 80 \MJup$) companions are detected down to $0\farcs07$ ($\sim 8$ au, projected). The negligible accretion rate, small cavity, and forbidden line emission strongly suggests that DZ Cha is currently at the initial stages of disc clearing by photoevaporation. At this point the inner disc has drained and the inner wall of the truncated outer disc is directly exposed to the stellar radiation. We argue that other mechanisms like planet formation or binarity cannot explain the observed properties of DZ Cha. The scarcity of objects like this one is in line with the dispersal timescale ($\lesssim 10^5$ yr) predicted by this theory. DZ Cha is therefore an ideal target to study the initial stages of photoevaporation.

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arXiv2017

Herschel GASPS spectral observations of T Tauri stars in Taurus: unraveling far-infrared line emission from jets and discs

At early stages of stellar evolution young stars show powerful jets and/or outflows that interact with protoplanetary discs and their surroundings. Despite the scarce knowledge about the interaction of jets and/or outflows with discs, spectroscopic studies based on Herschel and ISO data suggests that gas shocked by jets and/or outflows can be traced by far-IR (FIR) emission in certain sources. We want to provide a consistent catalogue of selected atomic ([OI] and [CII]) and molecular (CO, OH, and H$_{2}$O) line fluxes observed in the FIR, separate and characterize the contribution from the jet and the disc to the observed line emission, and place the observations in an evolutionary picture. The atomic and molecular FIR (60-190 $\rm μm$) line emission of protoplanetary discs around 76 T Tauri stars located in Taurus are analysed. The observations were carried out within the Herschel key programme Gas in Protoplanetary Systems (GASPS). The spectra were obtained with the Photodetector Array Camera and Spectrometer (PACS). The sample is first divided in outflow and non-outflow sources according to literature tabulations. With the aid of archival stellar/disc and jet/outflow tracers and model predictions (PDRs and shocks), correlations are explored to constrain the physical mechanisms behind the observed line emission. The much higher detection rate of emission lines in outflow sources and the compatibility of line ratios with shock model predictions supports the idea of a dominant contribution from the jet/outflow to the line emission, in particular at earlier stages of the stellar evolution as the brightness of FIR lines depends in large part on the specific evolutionary stage. [Abridged Abstract]

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arXiv2016

The mid-IR water and silicate relation in protoplanetary disks

Mid-IR water lines from protoplanetary disks around T Tauri stars have a detection rate of 50\%. Models have identified multiple physical properties of disks such as dust-to-gas mass ratio, dust size power law distribution, disk gas mass, disk inner radius, and disk scale height as potential explanation for the current detection rate. We search for a connection between mid-IR water line fluxes and the strength of the 10~$μ$m silicate feature. We analyse observed water line fluxes from three blends and compute the 10~$μ$m silicate feature strength from Spitzer spectra. We use a series of published models, exploring disk dust and gas properties, and the effects of different stars. The models also show that the increasing stellar luminosity enhance simultaneously the strength of this dust feature and the water lines fluxes. No correlation is found between the observed mid-IR water lines and the 10~$μ$m silicate. Our sample shows the same difference in the peak strength between amorphous and crystalline silicates that was noted in earlier studies, but our models do not support this intrinsic difference in silicate peak strength. Individual properties of our model series are not able to reproduce the most extreme observations, suggesting that more complex dust properties are required. A parametrized settling prescription is able to boost the peak strength by a factor 2 for the standard model. Water line fluxes are unrelated to the composition of the dust. The pronounced regular trends seen in the model results are washed out in the data due to the larger diversity in stellar and disk properties compared to our model series. The disks with with weaker mid-IR water line fluxes are depleted in gas or enhanced in dust in the inner 10~au. In the case of gas depleted disks, settling produces very strong 10~$μ$m silicate features, with strong peak strength.

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arXiv2016

Exocomet signatures around the A-shell star $Φ$ Leo?

We present an intensive monitoring of high-resolution spectra of the Ca {\sc ii} K line in the A7IV shell star $Φ$ Leo at very short (minutes, hours), short (night to night), and medium (weeks, months) timescales. The spectra show remarkable variable absorptions on timescales of hours, days, and months. The characteristics of these sporadic events are very similar to most that are observed toward the debris disk host star $β$ Pic, which are commonly interpreted as signs of the evaporation of solid, comet-like bodies grazing or falling onto the star. Therefore, our results suggest the presence of solid bodies around $Φ$ Leo. To our knowledge, with the exception of $β$ Pic, our monitoring has the best time resolution at the mentioned timescales for a star with events attributed to exocomets. Assuming the cometary scenario and considering the timescales of our monitoring, our results indicate that $Φ$ Leo presents the richest environment with comet-like events known to date, second only to $β$ Pic.

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arXiv2015

Herschel-PACS observations of discs in the Eta Chamaeleontis association

Protoplanetary discs are the birthplace for planets. Studying protoplanetary discs is the key to constraining theories of planet formation. By observing dust and gas in associations at different ages we can study the evolution of these discs, their clearing timescales, and their physical and geometrical properties. The stellar association Eta Cha is peculiar; some members still retain detectable amounts of gas in their discs at the late age of 7 Myr, making it one of the most interesting young stellar associations in the solar neighbourhood. We characterise the properties of dust and gas in protoplanetary and transitional discs in the Eta Cha young cluster, with special emphasis on explaining the peculiarities that lead to the observed high disc detection fraction and prominent IR excesses at an age of 7 Myr. We observed 17 members of the Eta Cha association with Herschel-PACS in photometric mode and line spectroscopic mode. A subset of members were also observed in range spectroscopic mode. The observations trace [OI] and $H2O emissions at 63.18 and 63.32 microns, respectively, as well as CO, OH, CH+ and [CII] at different wavelengths for those systems observed in range mode. The photometric observations were used to build complete spectral energy distributions (SEDs) from the optical to the far-IR. High-resolution multi-epoch optical spectra with high signal-to-noise ratios were also analysed to study the multiplicity of the sources and look for further gas (accreting) and outflow indicators.

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arXiv2015

Understanding the water emission in the mid- and far-IR from protoplanetary disks around T~Tauri stars

We investigate which properties of protoplanetary disks around T Tauri stars affect the physics and chemistry in the regions where mid- and far-IR water lines originate and their respective line fluxes. We search for diagnostics for future observations. With the code ProDiMo, we build a series of models exploring a large parameter space, computing rotational and rovibrational transitions of water in nonlocal thermodynamic equilibrium (non-LTE). We select a sample of transitions in the mid- IR regime and the fundamental ortho and para water transitions in the far-IR. We investigate the chemistry and the local physical conditions in the line emitting regions. We calculate Spitzer spectra for each model and compare far-IR and mid-IR lines. In addition, we use mid-IR colors to tie the water line predictions to the dust continuum. Parameters affecting the water line fluxes in disks by more than a factor of three are : the disk gas mass, the dust-to-gas mass ratio, the dust maximum grain size, ISM(InterStellarMedium) UV radiation field, the mixing parameter of Dubrulle settling, the disk flaring parameter, and the dust size distribution. The first four parameters affect the mid-IR lines much more than the far-IR lines. A key driver behind water spectroscopy is the dust opacity, which sets the location of the water line emitting region. We identify three types of parameters. Parameters, such as dust-to-gas ratio, ISM radiation field, and dust size distribution, affect the mid-IR lines more, while the far-IR transitions are more affected by the flaring index. The gas mass greatly affects lines in both regimes. Higher spectral resolution and line sensitivities, like from the James Webb Space Telescope, are needed to detect a statistically relevant sample of individual water lines to distinguish further between these types of parameters.

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arXiv2014

Herschel -PACS observations of [OI] and H2O in Cha II

Gas plays a major role in the dynamical evolution of protoplanetary discs. Its coupling with the dust is the key to our understanding planetary formation. Studying the gas content is therefore a crucial step towards understanding protoplanetary discs evolution. Such a study can be made through spectroscopic observations of emission lines in the far-infrared, where some of the most important gas coolants emit, such as the [OI] 3P1-3 P2 transition at 63.18 microns. We aim at characterising the gas content of protoplanetary discs in the intermediate-aged Chamaeleon II (Cha II) star forming region. We also aim at characterising the gaseous detection fractions within this age range, which is an essential step tracing gas evolution with age in different star forming regions. We obtained Herschel-PACS line scan spectroscopic observations at 63 microns of 19 Cha II Class I and II stars. The observations were used to trace [OI] and o-H2O at 63 microns. The analysis of the spatial distribution of [OI], when extended, can be used to understand the origin of the emission. We have detected [OI] emission toward seven out of the nineteen systems observed, and o-H2O emission at 63.32 microns in just one of them, Sz 61. Cha II members show a correlation between [OI] line fluxes and the continuum at 70 microns, similar to what is observed in Taurus. We analyse the extended [OI] emission towards the star DK Cha and study its dynamical footprints in the PACS Integral Field Unit (IFU). We conclude that there is a high velocity component from a jet combined with a low velocity component with an origin that may be a combination of disc, envelope and wind emission. The stacking of spectra of objects not detected individually in [OI] leads to a marginal 2.6sigma detection that may indicate the presence of gas just below our detection limits for some, if not all, of them.

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arXiv2014

Gas and dust in the Beta Pictoris Moving Group as seen by the Herschel Space Observatory

Context. Debris discs are thought to be formed through the collisional grinding of planetesimals, and can be considered as the outcome of planet formation. Understanding the properties of gas and dust in debris discs can help us to comprehend the architecture of extrasolar planetary systems. Herschel Space Observatory far-infrared (IR) photometry and spectroscopy have provided a valuable dataset for the study of debris discs gas and dust composition. This paper is part of a series of papers devoted to the study of Herschel PACS observations of young stellar associations. Aims. This work aims at studying the properties of discs in the Beta Pictoris Moving Group (BPMG) through far-IR PACS observations of dust and gas. Methods. We obtained Herschel-PACS far-IR photometric observations at 70, 100 and 160 microns of 19 BPMG members, together with spectroscopic observations of four of them. Spectroscopic observations were centred at 63.18 microns and 157 microns, aiming to detect [OI] and [CII] emission. We incorporated the new far-IR observations in the SED of BPMG members and fitted modified blackbody models to better characterise the dust content. Results. We have detected far-IR excess emission toward nine BPMG members, including the first detection of an IR excess toward HD 29391.The star HD 172555, shows [OI] emission, while HD 181296, shows [CII] emission, expanding the short list of debris discs with a gas detection. No debris disc in BPMG is detected in both [OI] and [CII]. The discs show dust temperatures in the range 55 to 264 K, with low dust masses (6.6*10^{-5} MEarth to 0.2 MEarth) and radii from blackbody models in the range 3 to 82 AU. All the objects with a gas detection are early spectral type stars with a hot dust component.

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arXiv2013

Gas and dust in the TW Hydrae Association as seen by the Herschel Space Observatory

Context. Circumstellar discs are the places where planets form, therefore knowledge of their evolution is crucial for our understanding of planet formation. The Herschel Space Observatory is providing valuable data for studying disc systems, thanks to its sensitivity and wavelength coverage. This paper is one of several devoted to analysing and modelling Herschel-PACS observations of various young stellar associations from the GASPS Open Time Key Programme. Aims. The aim of this paper is to elucidate the gas and dust properties of circumstellar discs in the 10 Myr TW Hya Association (TWA) using new far-infrared (IR) imaging and spectroscopy from Herschel-PACS. Methods. We obtained far-IR photometric data at 70, 100, and 160 microns of 14 TWA members; spectroscopic observations centred on the [OI] line at 63.18 microns were also obtained for 9 of the 14. The new photometry for each star was incorporated into its full spectral energy distribution (SED). Results. We detected excess IR emission that is characteristic of circumstellar discs from five TWA members, and computed upper limits for another nine. Two TWA members (TWA 01 and TWA 04B) also show [OI] emission at 63.18 microns. Discs in the TWA association display a variety of properties, with a wide range of dust masses and inner radii, based on modified blackbody modelling. Both transitional and debris discs are found in the sample. Models for sources with a detected IR excess give dust masses in the range from 0.15 Msun to 63 Msun.

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arXiv2013

GASPS - a Herschel survey of gas and dust in Protoplanetary Disks: Summary and Initial Statistics

GASPS is a far-infrared line and continuum survey of protoplanetary and young debris disks using PACS on the Herschel Space Observatory. The survey includes [OI] at 63 microns, as well as 70, 100 and 160um continuum, with the brightest objects also studied in [OI]145um, [CII]157um, H2O and CO. Targets included T Tauri stars and debris disks in 7 nearby young associations, and a sample of isolated Herbig AeBe stars. The aim was to study the global gas and dust content in a wide disk sample, systemically comparing the results with models. In this paper we review the main aims, target selection and observing strategy. We show initial results, including line identifications, sources detected, and a first statistical study. [OI]63um was the brightest line in most objects, by a factor of ~10. Detection rates were 49%, including 100% of HAeBe stars and 43% of T Tauri stars. Comparison with published dust masses show a dust threshold for [OI]63um detection of ~1e-5 M_solar. Normalising to 140pc distance, 32% with mass 1e-6 - 1e-5 M_solar, and a small number with lower mass were also detected. This is consistent with moderate UV excess and disk flaring. In most cases, continuum and line emission is spatially and spectrally unresolved, suggesting disk emission. ~10 objects were resolved, likely from outflows. Detection rates in [OI]145um, [CII]157um and CO J=18-17 were 20-40%, but [CII] was not correlated with disk mass, suggesting it arises instead from a compact envelope. [OI] detection rates in T Tauri associations of ages 0.3-4Myr were ~50%. ~2 stars were detectable in associations of 5-20Myr, with no detections in associations of age >20Myr. Comparing with the total number of young stars, and assuming a ISM-like gas/dust ratio, this indicates that ~18% of stars retain a gas-rich disk of total mass >1M_Jupiter for 1-4Myr, 1-7% keep such disks for 5-10Myr, and none remain beyond 10-20Myr.

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arXiv2013

Nature of the gas and dust around 51 Oph

Circumstellar disc evolution is paramount for the understanding of planet formation. The GASPS program aims at determining the circumstellar gas and solid mass around ~250 pre-main-sequence Herbig Ae and TTauri stars. We aim to understand the origin and nature of the circumstellar matter orbiting 51 Oph, a young (<1 Myr) luminous B9.5 star. We obtained continuum and line observations with the PACS instrument on board the Herschel Space Observatory and continuum data at 1.2 mm with the IRAM 30m telescope. The SED and line fluxes were modelled using the physico-chemo radiative transfer code ProDiMo. We detected a strong emission by OI at 63 microns using the Herschel Space Observatory. The [OI] emission at 145 microns, the [CII] emission at 158 microns, the high-J CO emissions, and the warm water emissions were not detected. Continuum emission was detected at 1.2 mm. The continuum from the near- to the far-infrared and the [OI] emission are well explained by the emission from a compact hydrostatic disc model with a gas mass of 5E-6 MSun, 100 times that of the solid mass. However, this model fails to match the continuum millimeter flux, which hints at a cold outer disc with a mass in solids of 1E-6 MSun or free-free emission from a photoevaporative disc wind. This outer disc can either be devoid of gas and/or is to cold to emit in the [OI] line. A very flat extended disc model (Rout=400 AU) with a fixed vertical structure and dust settling matches all photometric points and most of the [O I] flux. The observations can be explained by an extended flat disc where dust grains have settled. However, a flat gas disc cannot be reproduced by hydrostatic disc models. The low mass of the 51 Oph inner disc in gas and dust may be explained either by the fast dissipation of an initial massive disc or by a very small initial disc mass.

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