arXiv subjects

Stephen L. Skinner

Publications and source records attributed to Stephen L. Skinner.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Variable X-ray Emission of the Planet Hosting T Tauri Star CI Tau

We report results of Chandra X-ray observations of CI Tau, a young magnetically active classical T Tauri star for which previous studies have reported periodic variability attributed to a massive planet in a short-period orbit. CI Tau was clearly detected by Chandra in four separate observations acquired in late 2023. The X-ray emission was steady in the first two observations with a characteristic plasma temperature kT ~ 2 keV (~23 MK) and X-ray luminosity log Lx = 29.74 erg/s. During each of the last two observations obtained two weeks later the count rate increased slowly and the X-ray plasma temperature was much higher but remained nearly steady at kT ~ 4 - 5 keV (~46 - 58 MK) and peak luminosity log Lx = 30.5 erg/s. Such variable X-ray emission in T Tauri stars accompanied by high plasma temperatures is a signature of magnetic activity, consistent with the known presence of a strong magnetic field in CI Tau. We summarize the variable X-ray emission properties of CI Tau within the framework of T Tauri stars of similar mid-K spectral type, identify possible variability mechanisms, and assess the effects of stellar X-ray irradiation on the claimed planet.

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arXiv2025

Bringing the Norma Dark Cloud to Light in X-rays

The filamentary dark cloud complex in Norma reveals signs of active low-mass star formation including protostars, H-alpha emission line stars, Herbig Haro objects, and the eruptive FU Orionis-like star V346 Nor. We present results of the first pointed X-ray observations of the Norma dark cloud, focusing on the westernmost Sandqvist 187 region. Chandra detected 75 X-ray sources and a complementary XMM-Newton observation detected 92 sources within the Chandra field-of-view, of which 46 are cross-matched to Chandra, yielding 121 unique X-ray sources. We present a catalog of X-ray sources along with basic X-ray properties and candidate IR and optical counterparts. Existing near-IR photometry reveals several X-ray sources with color excesses as typical of young stars with disks. Gaia parallaxes single out foreground stars and X-ray sources with distances of 500 - 1000 pc that are probable cloud members. The known emission line stars Sz 136 and Sz 137 were detected but V346 Nor was not. Interestingly, the optical and IR counterparts of the brightest Chandra source are not known with certainty but the prime suspects are very faint. Thus, the nature of the object responsible for the bright X-ray emission remains speculative. The X-ray observations presented here will serve as a pathfinder for identifying and characterizing the young stellar population in the Norma dark cloud.

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arXiv2024

X-ray Irradiation of the Giant Planet Orbiting the T Tauri Star TAP 26

We present new Chandra X-ray observations of TAP 26, a ~17 Myr old magnetically-active weak-lined T Tauri star that has been reported to host a massive planet in a 10.8 day orbit. At a separation of a = 0.097 AU the planet will be exposed to intense X-ray and UV radiation from the star. The first observation caught the star in a state of elevated X-ray emission with variability on a timescale of a few hours and an X-ray temperature kTx ~ 2 - 4 keV. Two subsequent observations 5-10 days later showed slow variability and a lower X-ray flux and temperature (kTx ~ 1 keV). We characterize the X-ray emission and estimate the X-ray ionization and heating rates that will need to be incorporated into realistic models of the planet's atmosphere.

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arXiv2023

X-ray Observations of the Enigmatic Wolf-Rayet System Theta Mus: Two's Company But Three's a Crowd

Theta Mus is a remarkable spectroscopic binary (SB) consisting of a carbon-type Wolf-Rayet star and OV companion (WC6+O6-7V) in a 19-day orbit. In addition an O-supergiant is visually detected at a small offset of 46 mas and if gravitationally bound to the SB system would have an orbital period of many decades. Theta Mus is X-ray bright and a nonthermal radio source as commonly observed in massive colliding wind (CW) binaries. We present new Chandra X-ray observations of Theta Mus which complement previous XMM-Newton observations. The X-ray emission consists of a cool nearly steady weakly-absorbed plasma component with broad redshifted emission lines located in an extended region far from the SB system. Hotter plasma is also present traced by Fe XXV emission. The observed flux in the 2-5 keV range dropped significantly on a timescale of less than 5 years. The flux decrease can be attributed to an increase in absorption toward the hotter plasma which is likely located in the confined wind interaction region of the short-period SB system. The X-ray emission of Theta Mus is remarkably similar to the WC+O binary gamma^2 Vel including carbon recombination spectral lines but both systems show unusual line centroid properties that challenge CW models.

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arXiv2022

HST UV Spectroscopy of the Planet-Hosting T Tauri Star PDS 70

We summarize Hubble Space Telescope (HST) UV observations of the weak-lined T Tauri star (wTTS) PDS 70 obtained with the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS). These observations provide the first far-UV (FUV) and near-UV (NUV) spectra of PDS 70. Ground-based observations have so far revealed two formative giant planets orbiting in a wide gap in its circumstellar disk. Both the star and young planets are thought to still be accreting. The HST spectra provide new insight into physical conditions in the star's outer atmosphere and circumstellar environment. The spectra are dominated by chromospheric and transition region emission lines with maximum formation temperatures log T = 4.5 - 5.2 K. Stellar continuum emission is present in the NUV but we find no significant FUV continuum, as could arise from accretion shocks. Several fluorescent FUV H2 emission lines are present, a surprising result since H2 lines are usually undetected in wTTS. The H2 lines likely originate in irradiated circumstellar gas that could serve as a reservoir for the star's waning accretion. A previously established correlation between C IV line luminosity and accretion rate yields $\dot{M}_{acc}$ $\sim$ 10$^{-10}$ $M_{\odot}$ yr$^{-1}$, consistent with previous estimates. ALMA disk gas models imply strong absorption of stellar X-ray and UV (XUV) radiation near the star, effectively shielding the planets. Inner disk gas is exposed to ongoing photoevaporation by XUV radiation and the disk is nearing the end of its expected lifetime, making PDS 70 an important example of a young planet-hosting star in the late stage of accretion.

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arXiv2021

Chandra revisits WR48a: testing colliding wind models in massive binaries

We present results of new Chandra High-Energy Transmission Grating (HETG) observations (2019 November - December) of the massive Wolf-Rayet (WR) binary WR 48a. Analysis of these high-quality data showed that the spectral lines in this massive binary are broadened (FWHM = 1400 km/s) and marginally blushifted (~ -100 km/s). A direct modelling of these high-resolution spectra in the framework of the standard colliding stellar wind (CSW) picture provided a very good correspondence between the shape of the theoretical and observed spectra. Also, the theoretical line profiles are in most cases an acceptable representation of the observed ones. We applied the CSW model to the X-ray spectra of WR 48a from previous observations: Chandra-HETG (2012 October) and XMM-Newton (2008 January). From this expanded analysis, we find that the observed X-ray emission from WR48a is variable on the long timescale (years) and the same is valid for its intrinsic X-ray emission. This requires variable mass-loss rates over the binary orbital period. The X-ray absorption (in excess of that from the stellar winds in the binary) is variable as well. We note that lower intrinsic X-ray emission is accompanied by higher X-ray absorption. A qualitative explanation could be that the presence of clumpy and non-spherically symmetric stellar winds may play a role.

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arXiv2021

Chandra X-ray Observations of V830 Tau: A T Tauri Star Hosting an Evanescent Planet

A radial velocity study by Donati et al. (2016) reported the detection of a close-in giant planet in a 4.93 d orbit around the ~2 Myr old weak-lined T Tauri star V830 Tau. Because of the stringent timescale constraints that a very young host star like V830 Tau would place on hot Jupiter formation models and inward migration mechanisms, independent confirmation of the planet's existence is needed but so far has not been obtained. We present new Chandra X-ray observations of V830 Tau. The Chandra observations in combination with previous XMM-Newton observations reveal strong variable X-ray emission with an X-ray luminosity spanning the range log Lx = 30.10 - 30.87 ergs/s. Chandra High Energy Transmission Grating (HETG) spectra show emission lines formed over a range of plasma temperatures from ~4 MK (Ne IX) to ~16 MK (S XV). At the separation of the reported planet (0.057 au) the X-ray flux is ~10$^{6}$ - 10$^{7}$ times greater than the Sun's X-ray flux at Jupiter. We provide estimates of the X-ray ionization and atmospheric heating rates at the planet's separation and identify areas of uncertainty that will need to be addressed in any future atmospheric models.

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arXiv2020

Chandra Resolves the Double FU Orionis System RNO 1B/1C in X-rays

We present new Chandra X-ray observations of the close pair of young stars RNO 1B and 1C (6$''$ separation) located in the L1287 cloud. RNO 1B erupted in 1978 - 1990 and is classified as an FU Orionis star (FUor). RNO 1C also shows most of the properties of an FUor but no eruption has yet been seen. Only a few dozen FUors are known and the presence of two such objects with a small angular separation is rare, suggesting a common origin. Both stars were faintly detected by Chandra and we summarize their X-ray properties within the framework of other previously detected FUors. We also report other X-ray detections in L1287 including the deeply-embedded young star RNO 1G, the jet-like radio source VLA 3, and an enigmatic hard flaring source with no 2MASS counterpart that was only detected in the second of two Chandra exposures.

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arXiv2019

X-ray Emission and Disk Irradiation of HL Tau and HD 100546

We present new X-ray observations of the optically-obscured protostar HL Tau and the intermediate mass Herbig Be star HD 100546. Both objects are surrounded by spectacular disks showing complex morphology including rings and gaps that may have been sculpted by protoplanets. HL Tau was detected as a variable hard X-ray source by Chandra, typical of late-type magnetically-active coronal sources. No extended X-ray emission was seen along the HL Tau jet, or along the jet of the T Tauri binary system XZ Tau located 23 arcsecs to its east. In contrast, HD 100546 was detected by XMM-Newton as a soft X-ray source with no short-term (<1 day) variability. Its X-ray properties are remarkably similar to the Herbig stars AB Aur and HD 163296, strongly suggesting that their X-ray emission arises from the same mechanism and is intrinsic to the Herbig stars themselves, not due to unseen late-type companions. We consider several possible emission mechanisms and conclude that the X-ray properties of HD 100546 are consistent with an accretion shock origin, but higher resolution grating spectra capable of providing information on individual emission lines are needed to more reliably distinguish between accretion shocks and alternatives. We show that X-ray ionization and heating are mainly confined to the upper disk layers in both HL Tau and HD 100546, and any exoplanets near the midplane at distances >1 au are well-shielded from X-rays produced by the central star.

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arXiv2018

High Energy Processes in Wolf-Rayet Stars

Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars are massive ($\geq$10 M$_{\odot}$) evolved stars undergoing advanced nuclear burning in their cores, rapidly approaching the end of their lives as supernovae. Their powerful winds enrich the interstellar medium with heavy elements, providing raw material for future generations of stars. We briefly summarize high-energy processes in WR stars, focusing mainly on their X-ray emission. We present new results from Chandra observations of the eclipsing WR+O binary CQ Cep covering a full orbit which stringently test X-ray emission models.

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arXiv2018

Chandra Observations of the Massive Star-Forming Region Onsala 2

Previous radio and infrared observations have revealed an obscured region of high-mass star formation in Cygnus known as Onsala 2 (ON 2). Within this region lies the optically-revealed young stellar cluster Berkeley 87 which contains several OB stars and the rare oxygen-type Wolf-Rayet star WR 142. Previous radio studies of ON 2 have also discovered masers and several H II regions excited by embedded OB stars. Radio and GAIA parallaxes have now shown that the H II regions are more distant than Berkeley 87. We summarize two Chandra X-ray observations of ON 2 which detected more than 300 X-ray sources. Several optically-identified stars in Berkeley 87 were detected including massive OB stars and WR 142, the latter being a faint hard source whose X-ray emission likely arises in hot thermal plasma. Intense X-ray emission was detected near the compact H II regions G75.77+0.34 and G75.84+0.40 consisting of numerous point sources and diffuse emission. Heavily-absorbed X-ray sources and their near-IR counterparts that may be associated with the exciting OB stars of the H II regions are identified. Shocked winds from embedded massive stars offer a plausible explanation of the diffuse emission. Young stellar object candidates in the ON 2 region are identified using near-IR colors, but surprisingly few counterparts of X-ray sources have near-IR excesses typical of classical T Tauri stars.

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arXiv2017

XMM-Newton X-ray Observations of LkCa 15: A T Tauri Star With a Formative Planetary System

High-resolution ground-based images of the T Tauri star LkCa 15 have revealed multiple companions that are thought to comprise a formative planetary system. The candidate protoplanets orbit at distances ~15 - 20 AU within the dust-depleted inner region of the circumstellar disk. Because of its young age (1 - 4 Myr), LkCa 15 provides a benchmark system for testing planet-formation models. We detected LkCa 15 as a bright X-ray source in a short 10 ks Chandra observation in 2009. We report here new results obtained from a deeper 37 ks XMM-Newton observation in 2014. The new data provide better sampling in the time domain and improved sensitivity at low energies below 1 keV. Spectral fits with thermal emission models require at least two temperature components at kT_cool ~ 0.4 keV and kT_hot ~ 2.2 keV. The value of kT_hot is about a factor of two less than inferred from Chandra, suggesting that the hot-component temperature is variable. The best-fit absorption column density is in good agreement with that expected from optical extinction estimates A_v = 1.3 - 1.7 mag. The intrinsic X-ray luminosity is L_x(0.2 - 10 keV) = 3e30 ergs/s. Estimates of the X-ray heating rate of the inner disk and protoplanets are sensitive to the assumed disk gas surface density for which recent ALMA observations give estimates Sigma_0(gas) ~ 100 g/cm^2 at 1 AU from the star. At such densities, X-ray heating is confined mainly to the upper disk layers and X-ray penetration through the disk midplane to the protoplanets at r ~ 15 - 20 AU is negligible.

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arXiv2017

Radio emission and mass loss rate limits of four young solar-type stars

Observations of free-free continuum radio emission of four young main-sequence solar-type stars (EK Dra, Pi1 UMa, Chi1 Ori; and Kappa1 Cet) are studied to detect stellar winds or at least to place upper limits on their thermal radio emission, which is dominated by the ionized wind. These stars are excellent proxies for representing the young Sun. Upper limits on mass loss rates are calculated using their observational radio emission. Our aim is to re-examine the faint young Sun paradox by assuming that the young Sun was more massive in its past, and hence to find a possible solution for this famous problem. The observations of our sample are performed with the Karl G. Jansky VLA with excellent sensitivity, using the C-band and the Ku-band. ALMA observations are performed at 100 GHz. For the estimation of the mass loss limits, spherically symmetric winds and stationary, anisotropic, ionized winds are assumed. We compare our results to 1) mass loss rate estimates of theoretical rotational evolution models, and 2) to results of the indirect technique of determining mass loss rates: Lyman-alpha absorption. We are able to derive the most stringent direct upper limits on mass loss so far from radio observations. Two objects, EK Dra and Chi1 Ori, are detected at 6 and 14 GHz down to an excellent noise level. These stars are very active and additional radio emission identified as non-thermal emission was detected, but limits for the mass loss rates of these objects are still derived. The stars Pi1 UMa and Kappa1 Cet were not detected in either C-band or in Ku-band. For these objects we give upper limits to their radio free-free emission and calculate upper limits to their mass loss rates. Finally, we reproduce the evolution of the Sun and derive an estimate for the solar mass of the Sun at a younger age.

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arXiv2016

Chandra and XMM-Newton X-ray Observations of the Hyperactive T Tauri Star RY Tau

We present results of pointed X-ray observations of the accreting jet-driving T Tauri star RY Tau using Chandra and XMM-Newton. We obtained high-resolution grating spectra and excellent-quality CCD spectra and light curves with the objective of identifying the physical mechanisms underlying RY Tau's bright X-ray emission. Grating spectra reveal numerous emission lines spanning a broad range of temperature superimposed on a hot continuum. The X-ray emission measure distribution is dominated by very hot plasma at T_hot ~ 50 MK but higher temperatures were present during flares. A weaker cool plasma component is also present as revealed by low-temperature lines such as O VIII. X-ray light curves show complex variability consisting of short-duration (~hours) superhot flares accompanied by fluorescent Fe emission at 6.4 keV superimposed on a slowly-varying (~one day) component that may be tied to stellar rotation. The hot flaring component is undoubtedly of magnetic (e.g. coronal) origin. Soft and hard-band light curves undergo similar slow variability implying that at least some of the cool plasma shares a common magnetic origin with the hot plasma. Any contribution to the X-ray emission from cool shocked plasma is small compared to the dominant hot component but production of individual low-temperature lines such as O VIII in an accretion shock is not ruled out.

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arXiv2014

Chandra Resolves the T Tauri Binary System RW Aur

RW Aur is a multiple T Tauri system consisting of an early-K type primary (A) and a K5 companion (B) at a separation of 1.4 arcsec. RW Aur A drives a bipolar optical jet that is well-characterized optically. We present results of a sensitive Chandra observation whose primary objective was to search for evidence of soft extended X-ray emission along the jet, as has been seen for a few other nearby T Tauri stars. The binary is clearly resolved by Chandra and both stars are detected as X-ray sources. The X-ray spectra of both stars reveal evidence for cool and hot plasma. Suprisingly, the X-ray luminosity of the less-massive secondary is at least twice that of the primary and is variable. The disparity is attributed to the primary whose X-ray luminosity is at the low end of the range for classical T Tauri stars of similar mass based on established correlations. Deconvolved soft-band images show evidence for slight outward elongation of the source structure of RW Aur A along the blueshifted jet axis inside the central arcsecond. In addition, a faint X-ray emission peak is present on the redshifted axis at an offset of 1.2 +- 0.2 arcsec from the star. Deprojected jet speeds determined from previous optical studies are too low to explain this faint emission peak as shock-heated jet plasma. Thus, unless flow speeds in the redshifted jet have been underestimated, other mechanisms such as magnetic jet heating may be involved.

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arXiv2014

A Chandra Grating Observation of the Dusty Wolf-Rayet Star WR48a

We present results of a Chandra High Energy Transmission Grating (HETG) observation of the carbon-rich Wolf-Rayet (WR) star WR48a. These are the first high-resolution spectra of this object in X-rays. Blue-shifted centroids of the spectral lines of about -360 km/s and line widths of 1000 - 1500 km/s (FWHM) were deduced from the analysis of the line profiles of strong emission lines. The forbidden line of Si XIII is strong and not suppressed, indicating that the rarefied 10-30 MK plasma forms far from strong sources of far-UV emission, most likely in a wind collision zone. Global spectral modeling showed that the X-ray spectrum of WR48a suffered higher absorption in the October 2012 Chandra observation compared to a previous January 2008 XMM-Newton observation. The emission measure of the hot plasma in WR48a decreased by a factor ~ 3 over the same period of time. The most likely physical picture that emerges from the analysis of the available X-ray data is that of colliding stellar winds in a wide binary system with an elliptical orbit. We propose that the unseen secondary star in the system is another WR star or perhaps a luminous blue variable.

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arXiv2014

Episodic Accretion in Young Stars

In the last twenty years, the topic of episodic accretion has gained significant interest in the star formation community. It is now viewed as a common, though still poorly understood, phenomenon in low-mass star formation. The FU Orionis objects (FUors) are long-studied examples of this phenomenon. FUors are believed to undergo accretion outbursts during which the accretion rate rapidly increases from typically $10^{-7}$ to a few $10^{-4}$ $M_\odot$ yr$^{-1}$, and remains elevated over several decades or more. EXors, a loosely defined class of pre-main sequence stars, exhibit shorter and repetitive outbursts, associated with lower accretion rates. The relationship between the two classes, and their connection to the standard pre-main sequence evolutionary sequence, is an open question: do they represent two distinct classes, are they triggered by the same physical mechanism, and do they occur in the same evolutionary phases? Over the past couple of decades, many theoretical and numerical models have been developed to explain the origin of FUor and EXor outbursts. In parallel, such accretion bursts have been detected at an increasing rate, and as observing techniques improve each individual outburst is studied in increasing detail. We summarize key observations of pre-main sequence star outbursts, and review the latest thinking on outburst triggering mechanisms, the propagation of outbursts from star/disk to disk/jet systems, the relation between classical EXors and FUors, and newly discovered outbursting sources -- all of which shed new light on episodic accretion. We finally highlight some of the most promising directions for this field in the near- and long-term.

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arXiv2013

An Analysis of the Environments of FU Orionis Objects with Herschel

We present Herschel-HIFI, SPIRE, and PACS 50-670 μm imaging and spectroscopy of six FU Orionis-type objects and candidates (FU Orionis, V1735 Cyg, V1515 Cyg, V1057 Cyg, V1331 Cyg, and HBC 722), ranging in outburst date from 1936-2010, from the "FOOSH" (FU Orionis Objects Surveyed with Herschel) program, as well as ancillary results from Spitzer-IRS and the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory. In their system properties (Lbol, Tbol, line emission), we find that FUors are in a variety of evolutionary states. Additionally, some FUors have features of both Class I and II sources: warm continuum consistent with Class II sources, but rotational line emission typical of Class I, far higher than Class II sources of similar mass/luminosity. Combining several classification techniques, we find an evolutionary sequence consistent with previous mid-IR indicators. We detect [O I] in every source at luminosities consistent with Class 0/I protostars, much greater than in Class II disks. We detect transitions of 13CO (J_up of 5 to 8) around two sources (V1735 Cyg and HBC 722) but attribute them to nearby protostars. Of the remaining sources, three (FU Ori, V1515 Cyg, and V1331 Cyg) exhibit only low-lying CO, but one (V1057 Cyg) shows CO up to J = 23 - 22 and evidence for H2O and OH emission, at strengths typical of protostars rather than T Tauri stars. Rotational temperatures for "cool" CO components range from 20-81 K, for ~ 10^50 total CO molecules. We detect [C I] and [N II] primarily as diffuse emission.

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