High-contrast Polarimetry Observation of T Tau Circumstellar Environment

Abstract

We conducted high-contrast polarimetry observations of T Tau in the H-band, using the HiCIAO instrument mounted on the Subaru Telescope, revealing structures as near as 0.$\arcsec$1 from the stars T Tau N and T Tau S. The whole T Tau system is found to be surrounded by nebula-like envelopes, and several outflow-related structures are detected in these envelopes. We analyzed the detailed polarization patterns of the circumstellar structures near each component of this triple young star system and determined constraints on the circumstellar disks and outflow structures. We suggest that the nearly face-on circumstellar disk of T Tau N is no larger than 0.$\arcsec$8, or 117 AU, in the northwest, based on the existence of a hole in this direction, and no larger than 0.$\arcsec$27, or 40 AU, in the south. A new structure "N5" extends to about 0.$\arcsec$42, or 59 AU, on the southwest of the star, believed to be part of the disk. We suggest that T Tau S is surrounded by a highly inclined circumbinary disk with a radius of about 0.$\arcsec$3, or 44 AU, with a position angle of about 30${}^{\circ }$, that is misaligned with the orbit of the T Tau S binary. After analyzing the positions and polarization vector patterns of the outflow-related structures, we suggest that T Tau S should trigger the well-known E-W outflow, and is also likely to be responsible for a southwest precessing outflow "coil" and a possible south outflow.

arXiv comment12 pages, 6 figures, accepted by The Astrophysical Journal

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• ALMA chemical survey of disk-outflow sources in Taurus (ALMA-DOT) VI: Accretion shocks in the disk of DG Tau and HL Tau
• ALMA Super-resolution Imaging of T Tau: r = 12 au Gap in the Compact Dust Disk around T Tau N
• Is T Tauri North a 'Classical' T Tauri star?
• On the Nature of the T Tauri Triple System
• Mid-infrared photometry of the T Tauri triple system with kernel phase interferometry
• Planet-forming disks and their environment across regions and time from the full NIR census
• A triple star in disarray -- Multi-epoch observations of T Tauri with VLT-SPHERE and LBT-LUCI