Quick search Find article
Quick search
Find article

EVIDENCE FOR DYNAMICAL CHANGES IN A TRANSITIONAL PROTOPLANETARY DISK WITH MID-INFRARED VARIABILITY

FREE ISSUE

James Muzerolle1,2,11, Kevin Flaherty2, Zoltan Balog2,3, Elise Furlan4, Paul S. Smith2, Lori Allen5,6, Nuria Calvet7, Paola D'Alessio8, S. Thomas Megeath9, August Muench5, George H. Rieke2 and William H. Sherry10

Show affiliations


We present multi-epoch Spitzer Space Telescope observations of the transitional disk LRLL 31 in the 2-3 Myr old star-forming region IC 348. Our measurements show remarkable mid-infrared variability on timescales as short as one week. The infrared continuum emission exhibits systematic wavelength-dependent changes that suggest corresponding dynamical changes in the inner disk structure and variable shadowing of outer disk material. We propose several possible sources for the structural changes, including a variable accretion rate or a stellar or planetary companion embedded in the disk. Our results indicate that variability studies in the infrared can provide important new constraints on protoplanetary disk behavior.


Keywords

accretion, accretion disks; planetary systems: protoplanetary disks; stars: pre-main sequence


PACS

97.82.Jw Infrared excess; debris disks; protoplanetary disks; exo-zodiacal dust

98.58.Jg Infrared emission

97.10.Bt Star formation

97.10.Gz Accretion and accretion disks

95.85.Hp Infrared (3–10 &mgr;m)

Subjects

Astrophysics and astroparticles

Dates

Issue 1 (2009 October 10)

Received 2009 July 8, accepted for publication 2009 September 8

Published 2009 September 23



Related review articles

What's this?
View review articles related to this research to gain an insight into the key trends in this subject area. Related review articles are selected based on PACS/MSC codes, and are no more than three years old.

  1. The physical properties of extra-solar planets

View by subject




Export








Please login to access our web services, or create an account if you don't yet have one.

You must have cookies enabled in your web browser to be able to login.

Username
Password

Forgotten your password? Get a new one here.