Time-dependent Monte Carlo continuum radiative transfer
arXiv:2210.16066 · doi:10.1051/0004-6361/202142970
Abstract
Aims. We present an implementation of an algorithm for 3D time-dependent Monte Carlo radiative transfer. It allows one to simulate temperature distributions as well as images and spectral energy distributions of the scattered light and thermal reemission radiation for variable illuminating and heating sources embedded in dust distributions, such as circumstellar disks and dust shells on time scales up to weeks. Methods. We extended the publicly available 3D Monte Carlo radiative transfer code POLARIS with efficient methods for the simulation of temperature distributions, scattering, and thermal reemission of dust distributions illuminated by temporally variable radiation sources. The influence of the chosen temporal step width and the number of photon packages per time step as key parameters for a given configuration is shown by simulating the temperature distribution in a spherical envelope around an embedded central star. The effect of the optical depth on the temperature simulation is discussed for the spherical envelope as well as for a model of a circumstellar disk with an embedded star. Finally, we present simulations of an outburst of a star surrounded by a circumstellar disk. Results. The presented algorithm for time-dependent 3D continuum Monte Carlo radiative transfer is a valuable basis for preparatory studies as well as for the analysis of continuum observations of the dusty environment around variable sources, such as accreting young stellar objects. In particular, the combined study of light echos in the optical and near-infrared wavelength range and the corresponding time-dependent thermal reemission observables of variable, for example outbursting sources, becomes possible on all involved spatial scales.
arXiv commentAccepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics. 15 pages, 18 figures
References in corpus (23)
- Infrared Emission from Interstellar Dust. I. Stochastic Heating of Small Grains
- Monte Carlo radiative transfer in protoplanetary disks
- Near-Infrared Photometric Variability of Stars Toward the Orion A Molecular Cloud
- Probing dust grain evolution in IM Lupi's circumstellar disc. Multi-wavelength observations and modelling of the dust disc
- Results of the ROTOR-program. I. The long-term photometric variability of classical T Tauri stars
- Radiative transfer with POLARIS: I. Analysis of magnetic fields through synthetic dust continuum polarization measurements
- Continuum Variability of Deeply Embedded Protostars as a Probe of Envelope Structure
- Quantifying Variability of YSOs in the Mid-IR Over Six Years with NEOWISE
- Spatially resolved mid-infrared observations of the triple system T Tauri
- Efficient radiative transfer in dust grain mixtures
- YSOVAR: Mid-IR variability in the star forming region Lynds 1688
- An algorithm for Monte-Carlo time-dependent radiation transfer
- Tracing planet-induced structures in circumstellar disks using molecular lines
- WARPFIELD Population Synthesis: The physics of (extra-)Galactic star formation and feedback driven cloud structure and emission from sub-to-kpc scales
- On the origins of polarization holes in Bok globules
- A Pulsation Search Among Young Brown Dwarfs and Very Low Mass Stars
- Unbiased Monte Carlo continuum radiative transfer in optically thick regions
- Constraining the magnetic field properties of Bok globule B335 using SOFIA/HAWC+
- Self-scattering in protoplanetary disks with dust settling
- GG Tau A: Dark shadows on the ringworld
- Synthetic observations of spiral arm tracers of a simulated Milky Way analog
- Three-dimensional continuum radiative transfer of polarized radiation in exoplanetary atmospheres
- DR Tau: Temporal variability of the brightness distribution in the potential planet-forming region