The Post-Outburst Spectrum of L1415-IRS

Abstract

We present near-infrared spectroscopic observations of L1415-IRS, a Class I type young stellar object that underwent a factor of $>$30 photometric outburst in the early 2000s. Ours is the first reported spectroscopy of this deeply embedded source. Both components of L1415-IRS present continuum plus $H_2$ emission. The southern component has additional weak HI Br$\gamma$ and $CO$ emission. Based upon our spectrum and evidence of a declining lightcurve, we hypothesize that either: the outburst was not large enough and therefore hot enough to produce the FU Ori type absorption spectrum commonly interpreted as an accretion disk atmosphere, or the source has already recovered from FU Ori-type equatorial accretion to re-establish T Tauri-type magnetospheric accretion.

accepted to appear in RNAAS