J. A. Eisner et al 2009 ApJ 698 L169 doi:10.1088/0004-637X/698/2/L169
J. A. Eisner1, J. D. Monnier2, P. Tuthill3 and S. Lacour4
Show affiliationsWe present mid-infrared (mid-IR) observations from Gemini/TReCS that spatially resolve the dust emission around SR 21. The protoplanetary disk around SR 21 is believed to have a cleared gap extending from stellocentric radii of ~0.5 AU to ~20 AU, based on modeling of the observed spectral energy distribution (SED). Our new observations resolve the dust emission, and our data are inconsistent with the previous model. We require the disk to be completely cleared within ~10 AU, without the hot inner disk spanning ~0.25-0.5 AU posited previously. To fit the SED and mid-IR imaging data together, we propose a disk model with a large inner hole, but with a warm companion—possibly surrounded by circumstellar material of its own—residing near the outer edge of the cleared region. We also discuss a model with a narrow ring included in a large cleared inner disk region, and argue that it is difficult to reconcile with the data.
circumstellar matter; stars: individual (SR 21); stars: pre-main sequence; techniques: high angular resolution; techniques: interferometric
97.10.Fy Circumstellar shells, clouds, and expanding envelopes; circumstellar masers
95.85.Hp Infrared (3–10 &mgr;m)
Issue 2 (2009 June 20)
Received 2009 April 13, accepted for publication 2009 May 19
Published 2009 June 4
J. A. Eisner et al 2009 ApJ 698 L169
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